May 31, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The prestigious Department of Chemical and Veterinary Research of Stuttgart, Germany, has published a report indicating that the majority of the 32 types of condoms produced under 18 different brand names that are distributed in the country contain carcinogenic substances. In addition, according to the study, with the exception of one brand, all the others “raise doubts” about their safety.
A study of the products sold most in vending machines, at large stores and pharmacies, shows that some of the condoms studied contain “very considerable quantities” of nitrosamines, a component that can lead to cancer.
Werner Altkofer, director of the laboratory, explained that only 3 of the most used types of condoms appeared to be free of nitrosamines, all of which are made by the same manufacturer. The results of the study, for now, will not lead to the removal of the products from stores, because there are no legal regulations defining the maximum quantity of nitrosamines which a product may contain. Nitrosamines give elasticity to condoms.
The Department has sent the report to government officials to push for a federal law on the use of the substances.