Sobering news for rubber contraceptive users.
*
A German scientific research institute has warned that most condoms on the
market contain a cancer-causing chemical and has urged that their
manufacture be subjected to stringent quality control.
*
The Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Institute in Stuttgart said on
Friday it had found the carcinogen N-Nitrosamine in 29 of 32 types of
condoms it tested in simulated conditions.
*
The condoms, which were kept in a solution with artificial sweat, exuded
huge amounts of cancer-causing N-Nitrosamine from its rubber coating.
Researchers measured amounts of N-Nitrosamine, that were way above the
prescribed limits for other rubber products such as baby pacifiers.
*
"N-Nitrosamine is one of the most carcinogenic substances," the study's
authors said. "There is a pressing need for manufacturers to tackle this
problem."
*
The study said that the carcinogen is thought to be present in a substance
used to improve condom elasticity. When the rubber material comes in
contact with human bodily fluids, it can release traces of N-Nitrosamine.
*
No immediate health risk
*
But since there are no prescribed limits of N-Nitrosamine for condoms, the
study hasn't caused panic among manufacturers or mass-recalling of the
products from counters.
*
Local government officials said condom users should not stop using rubber
contraceptives based on the results of the study because N-Nitrosamine
does not present an immediate health risk.
*
The Baden-Würtemmberg Social Ministry said it didn't think "it posed a
risk."*Authorities are also withholding the name of the affected
manufacturers for fear of litigation.
*
Manufacturers should use alternative substances
*
But Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said that daily condom
use exposed users to N-Nitrosamine levels up to three times higher than
levels naturally present in food.
*
Werner Altkofer, head of the Stuttgart-based Chemical and Veterinary
Investigation Institute said that though the production of rubber usually
uses chemicals that can exude N-Nitrosamine, condom manufacturers could
bypass it by using more expensive alternative substances available on the
market that didn't form the carcinogen.
*
"We believe that it's up to the manufacturers to use other production
processes so that no N-Nitrosamine is formed in condoms," Altkofer said.
*
He added that the latter was technically possible going by the fact that
products of some manufacturers didn't show traces of the carcinogen during
the testing.
*
Beate Uhse taking no chances
*
Germany's biggest erotica compnay*Beate Uhse however, has decided to play
it safe.
*
Shortly after the results of the study were introduced on Friday, the
group banned chocolate-flavored condoms from its range. That was because
the study had show that condoms laced with a chocolate flavoring had
overwhelming high levels of N-Nitrosamine.*

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 18:59:40 -0500, "PaulKing"
<aimulti@aimultimedia.com> wrote:

There may be a very small risk. But the risk from disease from HIV
and/or other STDs that condoms can prevent is much higher.

George M. Carter

Simply NOT true.

HIV is harmless (if it even exists) but cancer is REAL and deadly.

Cancer kills nearly half a million people a year in Americaq alone.

THREE TIMES THE MAXIMUM LEVEL EVER FOUND IN FOODSTUFFS


But Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said that daily
condom
use exposed users to N-Nitrosamine levels up to three times higher than
levels naturally present in food.

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 20:03:26 -0500, "PaulKing"
<aimulti@aimultimedia.com> wrote:

Internally logically consistent but nonetheless utterly inaccurate as
HIV does exist and it causes AIDS.

What kind of cancer? Cancer people got from condoms?? Heavens. You
really are such a dingbat.

George M. Carter