It’s probably something that you never thought about before, right? It’s certainly a conversion stopper at parties, but something very serious on a professional level. Gloves come out of the packet, so they have to be clean. No-one has ever used them before, so if I use a new pair of gloves every time they must be ok, mustn’t they?
Don’t take this for granted as a lot of the gloves today contain residue chemicals left in the glove from the production process. This is not intended to be a scare article, rather an article to assist you in making a more informed choice - and we’ll start with leather.
Leather - the cleanliness issue
The problem is quite widespread - so say studies by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (BGFA) at the Ruhr University in Bochum (Germany) and the Danish Technological Institute for the Environment.
The BGFA found that 45% of the leather gloves tested positive to Chromium (VI) impurities despite the fact that most modern tanning agents are free from large amounts of Chromium (VI). Likewise, the Danish Technological Institute for the Environment found 35% of the leather gloves tested contained Chromium (VI) in levels above the acceptable parts per million (PPM) guides for harmful ingredients. So why do studies like these draw attention to the potential harm?
How are they made?
In order to transform an animal hide into leather it has to pass through a tanning process before it can be sewn into a work glove. It’s at this stage that the collagen fibres within the hide are attacked by chemicals such as Chromium and tannins.
It is estimated that chrome tanning accounts for some 90% of tanning production in the United States and approximately 80% worldwide. Why? It’s simple. Leather produced using this method (chrome) produces leather that is softer, more pliable, possesses a higher stability to thermal properties and water. It also takes significantly less time versus the vegetable tanning method, making it the method of choice to maximise production and profit.
Chromium and the human body
As a result of the way the Chromium binds the collagen fibres there is, according to the studies cited earlier in this article, inevitably some residual Chromium contained in the leather fibres of the hide, and consequently in leather gloves. This will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer; however, it is estimated to be four to five percent that is left in the glove. The most likely adverse effect to humans appears to be contact dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis
Chromium is one of the most common contact sensitisers in males within industrialised countries. Dermal exposure to Chromium has been demonstrated to produce allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. Irritant dermatitis is caused by the direct cytotoxic properties of Chromium, and allergic contact is an inflammatory response controlled by the immune system.
Allergic dermatitis associated with Chromium is characterised by swelling, papules, dryness, scaling and fissuring.
What should you do?
If you stop using leather gloves and start using synthetic gloves, will everything be OK? The simple and direct answer to that is NO. You always need to check any glove you’re using, even if it is from one of the large manufacturers.
Extra attention should be given if you are evaluating leather and/or polyurethane (PU) gloves. This is not to say that all leather and PU gloves aren’t safe; however, given there are many cheap imports on the market you have to investigate as they are usually cheap because corners are cut in their manufacture.
What’s the problem with polyurethane gloves?
There are multiple issues in the manufacturing and use of the solvent-based polyurethane gloves relating to:
• The levels of water used in the manufacturing process to try and clean the DMF and THF off this contaminated glove - this is frequently dumped back into nature without any treatment
• The inhalation and skin contact with DMF and THF for the people working in the factories manufacturing these solvent-based polyurethane gloves
• The health effects for users of this type of glove - these relate not only to the direct skin contact where the glove covers the hand, but also to other parts of the body should DMF and THF become absorbed into the bloodstream
What does DMF and THF do to the human body?
The scientific evidence is inconclusive regarding the magnitude of the effect of DMF and THF on humans, as these gloves have only been used industrially for just over a decade. However, laboratory animal research can shed some cautionary light on guidelines for human usage, as exposure (to animals) has shown reproductive and fetal effects. When used on a regular and acute basis the absorption of DMF and THF through human skin may cause dermatological issues, liver problems, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
The risk of wearing contaminated gloves with high levels of DMF and THF over a standard working shift can be significant. If you use these types of gloves it is essential to take note that the necessary testing and safeguards are put into place to ensure the safe levels of parts per million (PPM). The safe limits are 10 PPM for people using the glove for eight hours and 20 PPM for uses of up to 15 minutes.
DMF and THF have the potential to be the next asbestos. Used extensively by manufacturers and builders, asbestos was deemed to be safe. However, asbestos destroyed the health of a lot of people, and many lost their lives due to the cancer-causing elements inherent in asbestos.
So what should you look for when choosing a glove?
Most of the larger gloves’ manufacturers have an environmental policy registered to the global ISO 14000 standard, which represents the core set of standards used in designing, implementing and managing an effective environmental management system. It’s a good indicator of their ‘green’ credentials, but how does this translate into the glove you use?
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