Editing Condom (section)

=== Scientific and environmental ===
More generally, some scientific researchers have expressed objective concern over certain ingredients sometimes added to condoms, notably [[talc]] and [[nitrosamine]]s. Dry dusting powders are applied to latex condoms before packaging to prevent the condom from sticking to itself when rolled up. Previously, talc was used by most manufacturers, but [[cornstarch]] is currently the most popular dusting powder.<ref name="fhi4">{{cite journal |last=Gilmore |first=Caroline E |title=Chapter 4: Recent Advances in the Research, Development and Manufacture of Latex Rubber Condoms |journal=The Latex Condom: Recent Advances, Future Directions |url=http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/booksReports/latexcondom/recentadvances.htm |access-date=8 April 2007 |year=1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405095036/http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/booksReports/latexcondom/recentadvances.htm |archive-date=5 April 2007}}</ref> Although rare during normal use, talc is known to be potentially irritant to mucous membranes (such as in the vagina). Cornstarch is generally believed to be safe; however, some researchers have raised concerns over its use as well.<ref name="fhi4" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wright |first1= H |last2=Wheeler |first2= J |last3=Woods |first3= J |last4=Hesford |first4= J |last5=Taylor |first5= P |last6=Edlich |first6= R |title=Potential toxicity of retrograde uterine passage of particulate matter |journal=J Long Term Eff Med Implants |volume=6 |issue=3–4 |pages=199–206 |year=1996 |pmid=10167361}}</ref>

Nitrosamines, which are potentially [[carcinogenic]] in humans,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jakszyn |first1= P |last2=Gonzalez |first2= C |title=Nitrosamine and related food intake and gastric and oesophageal cancer risk: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence |journal=World J Gastroenterol |volume=12 |issue=27 |pages=4296–4303 |year=2006 |pmid=16865769 |pmc=4087738 |doi=10.3748/wjg.v12.i27.4296 |doi-access= free }}</ref> are believed to be present in a substance used to improve elasticity in latex condoms.<ref name="dw">{{cite news |last=DW staff |title=German Study Says Condoms Contain Cancer-causing Chemical |publisher={{Lang|de|[[Deutsche Welle]]|italic=no}} |date=29 May 2004 |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1220847,00.html |access-date=8 April 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311112244/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1220847,00.html |archive-date=11 March 2007}}</ref> A 2001 review stated that humans regularly receive 1,000 to 10,000 times greater nitrosamine exposure from food and tobacco than from condom use and concluded that the risk of cancer from condom use is very low.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Proksch |first= E |title=Toxicological evaluation of nitrosamines in condoms |doi=10.1078/1438-4639-00087 |journal=Int J Hyg Environ Health |volume=204 |issue=2–3 |pages=103–110 |year=2001 |pmid=11759152}}</ref> However, a 2004 study in Germany detected nitrosamines in 29 out of 32 condom brands tested, and concluded that exposure from condoms might exceed the exposure from food by 1.5- to 3-fold.<ref name="dw" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Altkofer |first1= W |last2=Braune |first2= S |last3=Ellendt |first3= K |last4=Kettl-Grömminger |first4= M |last5=Steiner |first5= G |title=Migration of nitrosamines from rubber products—are balloons and condoms harmful to the human health? |journal=Mol Nutr Food Res |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=235–238 |year=2005 |pmid=15672455 |doi=10.1002/mnfr.200400050}}</ref>
[[File:Used condom.jpg|right|thumb|Used condom on a street]]
In addition, the large-scale use of disposable condoms has resulted in concerns over their environmental impact via [[littering]] and in [[landfills]], where they can eventually wind up in [[wildlife]] environments if not [[incinerated]] or otherwise permanently disposed of first. Polyurethane condoms in particular, given they are a form of [[plastic]], are not [[biodegradable]], and latex condoms take a very long time to break down. Experts, such as [[AVERT]], recommend condoms be disposed of in a garbage receptacle, as flushing them down the toilet (which some people do) may cause plumbing blockages and other problems.<ref name="AliceDisposal">{{cite web |title=Environmentally-friendly condom disposal |publisher=Columbia University |date=20 December 2002 |url=http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2311.html |access-date=28 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020050953/http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2311.html |archive-date=20 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avert.org/condom.htm |title=Using Condoms, Condom Types & Condom Sizes |publisher=AVERT |access-date=26 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621222629/http://www.avert.org/condom.htm |archive-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> Furthermore, the plastic and foil wrappers condoms are packaged in are also not biodegradable. However, the benefits condoms offer are widely considered to offset their small landfill mass.<ref name="AliceDisposal" /> Frequent condom or wrapper disposal in public areas such as a parks have been seen as a persistent litter problem.<ref name="power">{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/bmj.318.7175.48 |pmid=9872892 |pmc=1114541 |title=Narrative based medicine: Why study narrative? |journal=BMJ |volume=318 |issue=7175 |pages=48–50 |year=1999 |last1=Greenhalgh |first1=T. |last2=Hurwitz |first2=B.}}</ref>

While biodegradable,<ref name="AliceDisposal" /> latex condoms damage the environment when disposed of improperly. According to the [[Ocean Conservancy]], condoms, along with [[marine debris|certain other types of trash]], cover the [[coral reef]]s and smother [[sea grass]] and other bottom dwellers. The [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] also has expressed concerns that many animals might mistake the litter for food.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hightower |first1=Eve |last2=Hall |first2=Phoebe |title=Clean sex, wasteful computers and dangerous mascara&nbsp;– Ask E |journal=[[E–The Environmental Magazine]] |date=March–April 2003 |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_2_14/ai_98469962 |access-date=28 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227050429/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_2_14/ai_98469962 |archive-date=27 December 2007}}</ref>