Archive for the ‘Gloves’ Category

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Latex Allergies & Glove Selection

A Latex Allergy is an allergic reaction to natural rubber latex most commonly found in latex gloves and balloons. Symptoms can include hives or welts, swelling of the affected area, runny nose, sneezing, headache, reddened itchy or teary eyes, sore throat or hoarse voice, abdominal cramps, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. Latex-allergic individuals can also develop asthma or occupational asthma, as well as cross-reactive allergies to foods such as bananas, avocados, kiwi fruits and chestnuts.

The Glove Connection
Most allergic latex reactions occur from finished rubber products that are made via a dipping method, as with gloves. Manufactured latex products, such as gloves, may contain additive chemicals that have a propensity to cause delayed hypersensitivity reactions manifested as contact dermatitis. Workers who use latex gloves (and other gloves) may get irritant dermatitis on their hands from numerous causes (e.g., sweating, powder, frequent handwashing). The allergenic proteins in latex may be carried on cornstarch powders that are used as a lubricant on some gloves, resulting in respiratory exposure.

Workers in labs, cleanrooms, and other controlled environments who wear gloves on a regular basis should be aware that they have options for protective gloves:

• Vinyl – known for being very clean, inexpensive and static dissipative. However, vinyl gloves retain heat and have poor moisture vapor transmission.
• Natural Rubber Latex – has the best cost/performance ratio of any material available. It is durable and easy to manufacture. However, it has no inherent static dissipative features.
• Nitrile – offers very good puncture resistance and exhibits broader chemical resistance than that of natural latex, especially with solvents. Nitrile also has very good static dissipative features not found in natural rubber latex.

In addition to issues around allergies and sensitivities, a glove’s material can have a dramatic influence on its comfort. For example, latex gloves are typically viewed as being more comfortable, while vinyl gloves tend to be more uncomfortable due to the rigid nature of vinyl. Nitrile gloves are now becoming more comfortable, however. In fact, some suppliers are using new nitrile-based production technologies to combine the sensitivity of latex with the protection of nitrile for gloves that provide the best of both worlds – sometimes at a value price.

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