Chemical found in condoms linked to cancer

A chemical contained in some rubber products including condoms has been linked to cancer. But before you start stressing about using them, there's not thought to be enough MBT in the product to pose a threat.

Despite this, the World Health Organisation has warned the substance used when making rubber products 'probably causes cancer'.

MBT is also found in condoms, baby dummies, rubber gloves, shoe insoles, car tyres, 3G football pitches and a host of other things that use rubber.

'It has been identified in gloves and baby bottle teats and soothers,' said professor Hans Kromhout, who was at a meeting in France where it was decided the chemical was a risk.

He added: 'It has recently been identified in inhalable road dust with the wearing of rubber tyres the most likely source of this contamination.'

MBT is now just one level below cigarettes in terms of cancer threat.