title: Occupational exposure to asbestos fibers resulting from use of asbestos gloves.
abstract: To assess the magnitude of fiber emission from asbestos gloves, 10 pairs were compared in an isolation chamber during simulation of a sterilization procedure; 176 air samples were collected. Means of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations ranged from 0.95 to 11.74 fibers (greater than 5 micrometers)/cm3 of air. Well-worn/clean gloves emitted significantly more fibers than did brand-new gloves, but fiber emission decreased with increased surface soiling. Eighty air samples were collected during simulation of the sterilization procedure in a well-ventilated room. The range of mean TWA concentrations was 0.07-0.99 fiber/cm3 for breathing zone samples and 0.06 to 0.60 fiber/cm3 for area samples. Thirteen samples were collected at actual workplaces; the range of TWA concentrations was 0.07-2.93 fibers/cm3 for breathing zone samples and 0.04-0.74 fiber/cm3 for area samples. Five of seven breathing zone samples from workplaces exceeded the proposed TWA concentration limit of 0.1 asbestos fiber/cm3. Hand contamination also was assessed. Four samples collected after touching the worktable ranged from 9953 to 13 108 fibers (greater than 5 micrometers)/cm2 of hand surface area; seven samples collected immediately after taking off gloves ranged from 741 to 3860 fibers/cm2. Available substitutes for asbestos gloves are discussed, and adoption of these substitutes is recommended strongly.
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D011481:Protective Clothing
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001194:Asbestos