....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 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 (almost identical to that used in breast implants). Some even use the highly lethal N9 as a lubricant and spermicide.

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.