Survey of sulfur-containing rubber accelerator levels in latex and nitrile exam gloves.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: G J Depree, T A Bledsoe, P D Siegel
• Journal: Contact dermatitis (Contact Dermatitis) Vol. 53 Issue 2 Pg. 107-13 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0105-1873 [Print] England
• PMID: 16033405 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Latex
• Nitriles
• Sulfur
• Rubber

Topics

• Allergens (analysis)
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (etiology)
• Gloves, Surgical
• Latex
• Nitriles
• Rubber
• Sulfur (analysis)