Survey of sulfur-containing rubber accelerator levels in latex and nitrile exam gloves.
2-Mercaptobenzothiazole and zinc dialkyldithiocarbamates are commonly used sulfur-containing rubber vulcanization accelerators known to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Exposure to these agents occurs through clothing such as undergarments and shoes, latex medical devices and latex and nitrile gloves. A simple, inexpensive screening method for total sulfur accelerator and a high performance liquid chromatographic speciation method were developed in the present study. These methods were applied to screen and quantify the sulfur accelerator content from 38 brands of 'off-the-shelf' latex and nitrile gloves obtained from commercial vendors. It was found that accelerator levels ranged from not detectable to 7.35 mg/g in the gloves analysed. Brands were found to contain single and multiple accelerator species within the glove. Powdered gloves had significantly higher accelerator levels than powder-free gloves from the same manufacturer; however, these chemical accelerators do not preferentially partition to the powder. The present analytical methodology is suitable for both manufacturing quality validation purposes, as well as for accelerator allergy research.
Depree
G J
GJ
Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, USA.
Bledsoe
T A
TA
Siegel
P D
PD
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D007840:Latex; D009570:Nitriles; D012408:Rubber; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis*
D000485:Allergens; D007840:Latex; D009570:Nitriles; D013455:Sulfur; D012408:Rubber