| Document ID (ISN) | 75297 |
| CIS number |
00-1054 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0344-5062 - Allergologie |
| Year |
1999 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Chen Z., Baur X. |
| Title |
Concentration of natural rubber latex allergens in rubber products and in indoor air of hospitals and physicians' practices |
| Original title |
Naturlatexallergengehalt in Gummiartikeln und in der Raumluft von Krankenhäusern und Arztpraxen [in German] |
| Bibliographic information |
Oct. 1999, Vol.22, No.10, p.598-605. 21 ref. |
| Abstract |
Today, 75% of all latex gloves are powdered with corn starch, which has a respirable particle fraction of 20 to 30%. Thus latex allergens are released in indoor air. In dust samples taken from rooms in 2 hospitals and 2 doctors' practices in which powdered latex gloves were used, levels of allergenic latex protein of up to 714ng/m3 air were found. Samples taken in rooms in which no latex gloves were used contained no allergenic latex protein. An examination of 145 employees yielded a close relationship between the concentration of allergenic latex protein in indoor air and allergic respiratory disorders. At aeroallergen levels of 0.6ng/m3 and higher, conjunctivitis, rhinitis and symptoms of asthma were reported by 19 of 122 exposed employees while no such problems were found among the 23 non-exposed controls. Latex-specific IgE antibodies were found only in exposed persons. A switch of powdered latex gloves to non-powdered latex or synthetic gloves quickly reduced the airborne concentration below the detection limit. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
allergens; hospitals; latex; airborne dust |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
protective gloves; talc; conjunctivitis; allergic respiratory disorders; dose-response relationship; determination in air; exposure evaluation |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Country / State or Province | Germany |
| Subject(s) |
Toxic and dangerous substances
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Health care services
|
