November 20th, 2007 
Alex
Used condoms are being recycled into hair bands in southern China, threatening to spread sexually-transmittable diseases they were originally meant to prevent.
Rubber hair bands have been found in local markets and beauty salons in Dongguan and Guangzhou cities in southern Guangdong province, China Daily newspaper said.
“These cheap and colorful rubber bands and hair ties sell well … threatening the health of local people,” it said.
Amongst the popular hosting companies, the one most loved is netfirms. Most of the top search engines results come from there. There are quite a few web design references to it as well.
Despite being recycled, the hair bands could still contain bacteria and viruses, it said. “People could be infected with AIDS, (genital) warts or other diseases if they hold the rubber bands or strings in their mouths while waving their hair into plaits or buns,” the paper quoted a local dermatologist who gave only his surname, Dong, as saying.
A bag of the recycled bands sells much cheaper than others on the market, accounting for their popularity, the paper said.
A government official was quoted as saying recycling condoms was illegal.
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The HIV Virus can live outside of a warm human body for about 15 seconds. I doubt anyone is going to get anything from melted plastic.
Holy crap! Do they just sit in some room over there and think of ridiculous ways to kill people!?
You have got to be kidding me.
Yes Axion,
but there are other viruses and bacteria that can live outside human body.
It seems they can recycle about anything..money to come out of it..
f**k working in that factory
For the most part, there are no real threats from STD’s as they are quickly killed once leaving the human body. You would be more likely to pick something up from the workers packaging the materials than from the original source of potential bugs.
You’re probably more likely to die choking on the rubber band than from any infectious agents that may have been in contact with the source material.
Think about this for a second. How could anyone possibly collect enough used condoms to recycle into hair bands? It seems more likely that this would be made from defective condoms rather than used condoms. In order to get enough used condoms they would likely have to collect them from a high use place like a brothel.
I call BS on this one. Where’s a link to a credible source?
I believe that maybe expired, unused condoms , but still, i don’t think it would be practical..right?
Funny story, horrible if there are any truth in this.
I agree, this must be a joke or I feel sorry for the workers handling those condom´s.
One can imagine with recycled paper used as toilet paper – do we have pictures of politicians in our rear end (horrible thought)
What do they do go door to door collecting condoms after people have sex, I say BS
Umm… there is a link to yahoo…
Yeah – Way to go – good story and “read!” quoted from “china daily” – so not Typical American.
Common sense tells most people not to be affraid.
Guys,
No need to argue.
Maybe the story isn’t true,maybe there is a “little” truth..i posted it so you can say your opinions about the fact that out there somebody could have done that.
It is quoted from china daily and the risk is obviously very low if any.
Clearly these are unused condoms. Do you really believe they’re digging through peoples’ trash cans and sewer systems for semen-filled used condoms and making them into hairbands? Or perhaps they have a special room for people to come have sex in and then leave the freshly-filled condom in a special bin?
Obviously they’re expired/recalled/defective condoms being used and absolutely no risk to the user.
Thanks for sharing
I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting!
Alos Blog : Used condoms recycled
Used condoms are being recycled into hair bands in southern China, threatening to spread sexually-transmittable diseases they were originally meant to prevent.
I think this is sick!
I don't thing these news are true. Maybe it's just a way to bad mouth the Chinese industries. I mean, just look, if they'd buy new condoms or rejected ones, it would be much easier since they'd go directly to the supplier. It would actually entail them much cost to go around town collecting USED ones. What? They'd go knocking around for used condoms? or look for them in the trash? Come on… do they have a separate recylce bin for condoms?? That's absurd, and very costly on the producer's part.
The recycled condoms are quite popular, but risk infecting users with the diseases that they were meant to prevent.