| PaulKing 2005-04-20, 5:45 pm |
| ....unless you could be the type of person to be concerned about trifles
like cancer, death from inhalation problems and the odd birth defect (to
name but a few).
Latex is a natural rubber or is not in the slightest elastic (high
modulus) until it undergoes a process called vulcanization.
This requires a large number of additives. Latex even in its natural form
has proteins known to cause allergic reactions (Types I, II and IV
-fatal).
The additives in vulcanization include: -
Benzene - Short term exposure to benzene may cause irritation to the
nose,
throat and lungs. It can also affect the nervous system, causing
headaches, dizziness and slurred speech. At high levels of inhalation
shallow breathing and death can result. Death has occurred after exposure
to 20.000ppm for five to ten minutes or 7.500ppm for 30 minutes.
Skin irritation, including redness and blistering can occur with skin
contact. It is also absorbed very slowly through the skin.
Long term exposure to this substance -- even at low concentrations -- can
cause a number of symptoms including appetite loss, nausea, fatigue,
headaches and dizziness.
Mild anemia has been reported after exposure to 25ppm for several years
and 100ppm for three months. At levels of 100ppm and 200ppm for periods of
six months, or more, severe irreversible blood changes and damage to the
liver and heart can occur.
Benzene is a known carcinogen and it has been linked to increased risk of
several forms of leukemia. In May 1977 the National Institute of
Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended that the TLV for benzene
be reduced from 10ppm to 1ppm because of its
carcinogenicity. NIOSH recommended that exposure to benzene be kept as
low
as possible and that the use of benzene as a solvent or dilutent in open
operations should be prohibited. This standard of 1ppm was legally
challenged by industry groups and never enforced.
Although some rubber companies said they expected to meet the 1ppm
recommendation, the established TLV remains at l0ppm.
Sampling in rubber plants reveals that the level of benzene in the air is
generally slightly greater than the NIOSH recommended standard of 1ppm.
Researchers investigating solvent use in the rubber industry found that
in
order to maintain benzene vapour below 1ppm, mixtures of solvents could
not contain greater than 0.1% benzene.
Toluene - This solvent, which is the major substitute for benzene, cannot
be considered a completely safe alternative even though it has not been
proven to be carcinogenic. The harmf ul effects of toluene include
irritation of eyes, respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs) and skin.
Repeated or prolonged contact with the liquid can cause removal of all
the
natural oils from the skin resulting in dry, cracked skin. When splashed
in the eyes, it can cause irritation and reversible damage. Acute
exposure
above the TLV of 100ppm can result in central nervous system depressions
with symptoms including headache, dizziness, fatigue and muscular
weakness
as well as drowsiness and incoordination.
Thiazoles - Cause dermatitis reactions. 2-mercaptobenzothiozole is said
to
be especially irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
Dithiocarbamates - Have been shown to be irritating to the skin, eyes and
respiratory organs. Possible carcinogens.
•Nitrosamines (N-nitrosodiphenylamine)
Many nitrosamines are potent carcinogens but until recently this
nitrosamine used as a retarder was not considered harmful. Recent
experiments with rats indicted N-nitrosodiphenylam ine as a cause of
cancer in the test animals. This substance also combines with other
rubber
chemicals to form other nitrosamines especially N-nitrosomorpholne which
is linked with liver and respiratory cancer and kidney tumours.
In addittion almost all condoms have some type of lubricant such as
carcinogenic talc or silicone.
If that was not enough in order to cause the vulcanized latex to gel on
the former a coagulant is required. These salts are all highly toxic and
not water soluable so the crystals remain embeded in the inner surface of
the condom.
Condoms, cause for concern? You decide. It's your life after all.
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