French breast implant manufacturer PIP used a fuel additive in its now-banned implants which the company knew were defective as early as 2005, it has been revealed.
The growing litany of accusations against PIP has triggered a worldwide scare with several countries, including France, advising thousands of women to have the implants removed, AFP reports.
France's RTL radio says it obtained an exact breakdown of the materials used in the faulty implants, including Baysilone, Silopren and Rhodorsil, all of which are industrial products never tested or approved for clinical use.
The products, used in the oil or rubber industries, allegedly contributed to the high rupture rate of the implants.
A German manufacturer has confirmed it supplied the industrial-grade silicone to the implant manufacturer.
PIP was shut down in 2010, but between 300,000 and 400,000 women in 65 countries have implants made with the substandard gel.
In December last year, France advised 30,000 women to have their PIP implants removed because of an increased risk of rupture, although officials have said there is no proven cancer risk.
