Science, Health & Recalls Week of April 14

The Brazilian government has opened a £10 million condom factory in the Amazon, in the town of Xapuri, which will use latex extracted from the forests to make around 100 million condoms a year, The Guardian reports. The factory will let allow local rubber tappers profit from the rainforest without destroying it, officials claim. This will also help the government rely less on imported condoms. Brazil reportedly distributed around 120 million free condoms in 2007 as part of an effort to cut the HIV infection rate.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) told Northern Virginia residents the state has taken steps to correct some of the problems in its mental health system that might have contributed to Seung Hui Cho’s shooting at Virginia Tech, Washington Post reports.

The governor highlighted reforms in a package of bills he signed last week, which expand services and monitoring for those with mental illnesses. The state also lowered the criteria for someone to be involuntarily put into treatment and added $42 million to the state’s community healthcare budget to add caseworkers and psychiatrists. Elected officials also created measures to increase accountability so there will be more oversight if someone is put in treatment.

Gamewell-FCI and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have recalled about 3,000 Gamewell-FCI 7100 Series Fire Alarm Control Panel items because the sounder on the panel’s main circuit board can fail to alert when a malfunction occurs. No injuries or situations have been reported. The 7100 series in question were sold to commercial users from May 2007 to November 2007 for $900 - $1,800.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and A.O. Smith Water Products have recalled about 1,500 Natural and Propane Gas Water Heaters because the water heater’s flue gas temperatures can surpass safe limits and create excessive heat in the venting unit, posing a fire hazard. The water heater’s exhaust can leak into a neighboring room, posing a carbon monoxide hazard. No incidents or Injuries have been reported. The recall includes the following models: FCG-75 300 and 301, and GS6 75 XRR S and CRR S, sold from November 2007 to January 2008 for $1,000 - $2,500.

The U.S. CPSC and FUNTASTIC have recalled about 26,000 Hillbilly Teeth toys because the gray surface paint on the teeth has excessive levels of lead that violate the Federal lead paint standard. No incidents or injuries have been reported. The recall includes a 2-pack fake Hillbilly Teeth with the item #2657, which was sold from March 2005 to March 2008, for about $2.

The U.S. CPSC and OKK Trading have recalled about 2,000 Interchange Robot Toys because surface paints on the toys contain excessive levels of lead that break the Federal lead paint standard. No incidents or injuries have been reported. The toys were sold as a four-piece set in box with “Interchange Robot” printed on the outside. The toys were sold at Dollar stores from October 2007 to December 2007, for about $1.

The Food and Drug Administration announced that at least 23 people in 14 states have been diagnosed with salmonellosis caused by the same strain of Salmonella that was found in the recalled unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals from Malt-O-Meal. The recalled products were distributed under the Malt-O-Meal brand name and under private label brands including Acme, America’s Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. The cereals have “Best If Used By” dates from April 8, 2008 (APR0808) through March 18, 2009 (MAR1809). Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.