Used Condoms recycled into hair-bands

Used condoms are increasingly being recycled into hair bands in southern China, threatening to spread sexually-transmittable diseases that they were originally meant to prevent. In the latest case of potentially harmful Chinese-made products, rubber hair bands have been found in markets and salons in Dongguan and Guangzhou cities in Guangdong province, the ‘China Daily’ said. "These cheap and colourful rubber bands and hair ties sell well, threatening the health of local people," it said. Despite being recycled, the hair bands could still contain an infective load of bacteria and viruses. "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," a local dermatologist said. According to Govt officials, the recycling of condoms is illegal but the fact that a bag of ten of the recycled bands sells for just three cents, much cheaper than others on the market, mainly accounts for their popularity. This report is the latest in a series of scandals which have tarnished the image of the Chinese manufacturing industry.