Facts and Issues on Natural Rubber Gloves

1. Important Functions of Wearing Gloves:

   Provide protection against transmission of microorganism and infectious fluids.

2. Positive Attributes of Natural Latex Gloves

   • Superior barrier performance
   • High tensile and tear strength
   • High elasticity
   • Extremely soft and conform to the hand
   • Biodegradable

3. Adverse Reactions Associated with Rubber Latex Gloves Irritant Contact Dermatitis (Non-allergenic)

   Type IV – delay hypersensitivity
   Type I Immediate hypersensitivity (IgE mediated allergy)

4. Challenges to Natural Rubber Gloves

   Shift to synthetic rubber gloves
   
   1999 NR (84%) SR(16%)
   2006 forecast (78%) (22%)

   Shift to powder-free latex gloves with low protein content
   Powdered Powder Free
   40 - 35% 60 – 65%

   Based on survey of medical gloves exported from Malaysia

   Country	Powdered	Powder Free
   US	37	63
   EU	53	47
   Japan	70	30
   Others	85	15

5. Barrier Integrity of Medical Gloves

   (A) 2002 Am J Infect Control
   Failure rate of medical exam gloves during simulated use :
   Vinyl 8.2 %
   Copolymer 8.2 %
   Latex 2.2%
   Nitrile 1.3%
   
   (B) 1990 J Chin Microbiology
   Leakage of virus ØX174 through used vinyl and latex exam
   Gloves
   Vinyl 22.9% Latex 7.5%

   (C) 2002 J Rubber Res
   Fatigue resistance of medical gloves at 75% strain

   Latex 860 – 1560 cycles
   Nitrile 85 - 207
   Vinyl 47 - 54

6. Adverse Reactions of PVC Gloves

   Carcinogeneity of vinyl chloride monomer.
   PVC gloves contain plasticizers such as DEHP, a highly toxic chemical.
   Release dioxin during incineration.
   Japan has banned vinyl gloves containing DEHP in food service industry.
   FDA issues a Public Health Notification on July 2002 “Precaution should
   be taken to limit the exposure of the developing male to DEHP.”

7. Technologies for Natural Rubber Gloves Improvement

   (A) Low Protein lattices.
   Latex concentrate contains 1-2% by weight of protein.
   Re-centrifuging following latex dilution will remove a high portion of
   proteins from the serum.
   Enzymatic deproteinization of latex.
   
   (B) Treatment of semi-finished or finished product – Natural Rubber
   Gloves
   Wet Leaching in hot water.
   Post curing leaching on dry film in constantly replaced hot water.
   Chlorination.
   Polymer coating.

8. Water Extractable Protein of Medical gloves

   Latex gloves 1990 to 1992
   Latex gloves 2000 to 2002 Up to 850 microgram/gram
   Up to 300 microgram/gram
   Powder Free gloves < 50 microgram/dm2