From: Monona Rossol <0000012821515289-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**listserv.med.cornell.edu>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 18:38:14 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 156f75a2371-2752-c910**At_Symbol_Here**webprd-m33.mail.aol.com
In-Reply-To


Bingo, Alan.   It was talking to these people that made me so suspicious.  


There were some very interesting animal tests that showed a similar effect.  Rats subjected to a toxic substance in a quantity high enough to make them ill would show the same toxic effects and aversion when they were exposed to the same chemical in doses that were too low to physically cause the symptoms.

So these people may actually be feeling something, but it ain't allergy.

Idiopathic Environmental Intolerances is a good moniker for this problem.  

I stress in my training that there is no relationship between odor and toxicity.  There are things that stink that don't hurt you and things that smell good that are very toxic. And many toxic airborne substances have little or no odor.   Your nose is a damn liar.  Use your brain instead.


Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President:  Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012     212-777-0062

 


-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Hall <ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Sun, Sep 4, 2016 1:59 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies

Monona, Sammye, et al,,

This one reminds me of what was popularized as Multiple Cemical Sensitivities (allergic to the 20th century).  When evaluating such patients, the physician finds a nearly completely positive review of systems and no clinical sings whatsoever on physical examination and perfectly normal common screening laboartaatory tests.  The International Programme on Chemical Safety (WHO, ILO, UNEP) had a large symposium on this plexing problem some years ago and decided it should be called Idiopathic Environmental Intolerances instead.

Having encounteredd a number of such fotks with this condition, I came to call it Perceived sensitivity to Chemicals, because these folks did subjective feel ill when they perceived they were exposed to chemicals, most often triggered, most triggered by strong or disagreeable odors.  One such  group could not drive their cars because they felt ill when they thought they were exposed to exhaust fumes, especiallydeisel truck exhaust.  This could be ameliorated by having them wear a standard surgical mask with the bottom ties left untied.  And of course, such a mask even if properly worn is not effective for protecting agains exhaust fumes.  However, the patients felt better and could resume driving. They also patronized full-service gas stations and avoided the soap and detergents and cosmetics aisles when shopping.

Then there are patients with legitimate allergies.  An example is those folks with such a strong peanut allergy that when airlines used to serve peanuts, they would develop sometimes quite severe bronchospasm when someone seated near them was eating the peanuts but they were not.

I haven't yet come across a rubber band allergy, but I supposed one could occur.  Hopefully this student has been evaluated by an Allergist and has appropriate measures taken (carrying an EpiPen if she has anaphylactoid or anaphylactic reactions, for example)..

I'll leave the glove selection comments to those of the group who are much more highly qualified that I am in this area, but Icertainlyagree with the commen thatyou can't select a proper protective glove without knowing what chemicals are being handled..

Alan
Alan H. Hall,M.D.



On Sat, Sep 3, 2016 at 8:38 PM, Samuella B. Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu> wrote:
I wondered when someone would chime in on the obvious.  How can the question of which glove to replace nitrile be answered if we don't know what chemicals the person is working with?  Thanks for pointing this out, Monona.

On this note, I had a student this week whose allergy to rubber bands was so bad, she could not smell them or be in the lab where they were being used.  This was a new one for me.  I am wondering how she goes into stores?

Sammye

On 9/2/2016 1:42 PM, Monona Rossol wrote:
Hmmmm.  I thought the manufacturer's recommend gloves be chosen to resist the particular solvents being used.   So this is not just "find any glove that doesn't cause me to break out."


Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President:  Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012     212-777-0062

 


-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Fri, Sep 2, 2016 9:52 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies

Best's  N-DEX =AE Free 7705PFT is accelerant free.

Another possible alternative is a chloroprene disposable glove like the Microflex Neopro.   Yet another thought would be to try a polyethylene liner glove under the nitrile.  The cheap, flat gloves they use in food prep are typically HDPE and food contact grade.  I don't think there are complicated formulas to polyethylene, but I can't prove that.

                            Don



From: DCHAS-L Discussion List <dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu> on behalf of Casadonte, Dominick <DOMINICK.CASADONTE**At_Symbol_Here**TTU.EDU>
Sent: Friday, September 2, 2016 9:39 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
 
Who sells accelerant-free nitrile gloves??

Sent from my iPhone
Lucy,
You hit the nail on the head.  The sensitivity is not to the "polymer" but rather the "accelerants" or catalysts.
Lynn Knudtson

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Lucy Dillman <lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2016 18:46:34 -0700

=C3- =BB =BF
I'm weighing in on the glove issue.  I have a sensitivity to latex gloves, so switched to nitrile.  (All powder free, by the way).  After some time, I felt like bees were stinging my hands when wearing nitrile gloves.  I tried using cotton glove liners, but they are hot and awkward, at least for me, when performing fine motor tasks.  After some study, I discovered accelerant free nitrile gloves.  Apparently it is the accelerant they use in making the material that can be a sensitizer.  My problem was solved. 
 
Best wishes,
Lucy Dillman
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2016 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
 
Hi Zack,
 
No, we do not have powered gloves.  They are the thin gloves that we use for general purpose use.  We have specialty gloves for some specific applications, but the student will not be working with those types of materials for this particular lab.

On Thu, Sep 1, 2016 at 1:54 PM, Zack Mansdorf <mansdorfz**At_Symbol_Here**bellsouth.net> wrote:
Are you using powdered gloves?  Nitrile allergies are pretty rare.  Are these thin gloves or thick gloves (thin I assume).
 
If the glove use is to keep the student clean or the work area clean, there are potential alternatives.  If it is for chemical permeation resistance, you need to check permeation guides.
 
Zack
S.Z. Mansdorf, PhD, CIH, CSP, QEP
Consultant in EHS and Sustainability
7184 Via Palomar
Boca Raton, FL  33433
 
 
 
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Bob Hill
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2016 1:34 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
 
I have not heard of nitrile glove allergy but allergy to latex is not uncommon. It would be good to document the nitrile allergy if it has not been previously reported.  Perhaps you could try vinyl gloves but I would do it cautiously since this person is allergic to nitrile (a polymer). 



-----Original Message-----
>From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety"
>Sent: Sep 1, 2016 12:59 PM
>To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
>Subject: [DCHAS-L] Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
>
>From: Amanda MacPherson
>Re: Latex and Nitrile Glove Allergies
>
>Hello,
>
>We currently have a student going through our chemistry program that has an allergy to latex and nitrile gloves. Does anyone know of a suitable alternative they would recommend? I have found several alternatives, but I know virtually nothing about the gloves themselves.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Amanda MacPherson
>
>--
>Amanda MacPherson
>Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator
>Physical Sciences Department
>York College of Pennsylvania
>441 Country Club Road
>York, PA 17403

Robert H. Hill, Jr., Ph.D.
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
 
"The Safety Ethic: I value safety, work safely, prevent at-risk behavior, promote safety, and accept responsibility for safety." 


 
--
Amanda MacPherson
Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator
Physical Sciences Department
York College of Pennsylvania
441 Country Club Road
York, PA 17403

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