Toxic chemical in condoms and dummies

In February 2016, 24 experts from eight countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France, to assess the carcinogenicity of seven industrial chemicals.  They concluded that MBT (2-mercaptobenzothiazole) should be labelled as a carcinogen.   MBT is found in numerous household items, including, condoms, soft playground surfaces made of ‘rubber crumb’, medical catheters, car tyres, rubber insoles, air beds, elastic bands, babies’ dummies and swimming caps and goggles.  Footballers may be at risk as MBT is also used in 3G pitches.   They stress that the risk to the public is low, about the same as the cancer risk of red meat.

According to MailOnline, a WHO spokesman said: “MBT is used mainly in manufacturing rubber products. The most important exposures are to workers in the chemical and rubber industries.  The general public may be exposed to small amounts of MBT by skin contact with some rubber goods, such as gloves and footwear, or by inhaling tyre dust in urban air. Risks to the public at large from these types of exposures have not been studied.”

Professor Tom Sorahan, of Birmingham University, who led a study of a Welsh chemical factory, said “I doubt whether MBT is a health issue for the general population but workers manufacturing or using the chemical need to be protected,” he was quoted as saying by MailOnline.

However, Dr Michael Warhurst of campaign group CHEM Trust, said “We need the regulatory system to work faster to protect us.  People would be right to be concerned about this, and to ask retailers whether this chemical is present in products that they have bought.”

Read More:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(16)00137-6/abstract
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3466622/World-health-chiefs-warn-cancer-risk-rubber-Chemical-tyres-gloves-babies-dummies-causes-diseases.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12176416/Chemical-found-in-babies-dummies-and-condoms-probably-causes-cancer.html

Image credit:  Goh Seng Chong | Bloomberg | Getty Images, Karex Industries condom factory in Pontian Besar, Johor, Malaysia.