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Posted By ColinPink
Hello
On the net there is an example of a case where a radiographer developed a latex allergy working in a hospital, this is mainly blamed on the gloves. In all the press statements however it also mentions a latex floor.
We have similar floors which are then covered with a top layer.
As long as the floor remains sealed i can't see how people could become expossed to the latex underneath.
Is anyone aware of any other cases where a latex floor has been indicated as a cause of an allergic reaction?
On the HSE website it refers to this case but only mentions the gloves.
Colin
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Posted By Phil Grace
Colin,
Not an expert in this field and can not comment on specific details of your situation. BUT... as far as I am aware the problem with latex gloves is the fact that they are coated with material to prevent them sticking together. Whilst the powder is innocuous it picks up latex proteins from the gloves and as gloves are used i.e. picked from box, perhaps shaken, maybe "inflated" to ease putting on the powder becomes airborne, is breathed in and then presto the latex protein is in the lungs... asthmatic reaction.
So, I'd guess solid latex floor wouldn't present any problems.
Phil
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Posted By Chris Packham
Check the spec of the floor. "Latex" is often used in a generic sense and the material may actually be a polychloroprene latex which would not contain the proteins. This is now the situation with the "latex" backing in carpets which, I am assured by manufacturers, is now almost exclusively synthetic latex.
With regard to your floor, I doubt whether you need be concerned. Even if it is natural rubber latex, it would need to be releasing sufficient of the specific heveins that are the antigens to initiate a reaction. This is extremely unlikely.
The problem with latex gloves was that in order to produce cheap gloves to meet the demands of health care services around the world, some glove manufacturers cut corners in manufacture resulting in single use gloves with high levels of free protein. These also had a sticky inside surface so to aid donning manufacturers used an epichlorhydrin cross-linked corn starch as a "lubricant" - the "glove powder" so often quoted. This is an irritant but has an affinity for the latex proteins which attach themselves to it. When the glove is donned the particles become airborne and are inhaled, causing sensitisation. Once sensitised, any exposure to the proteins can result in a type I allergic reaction.
Unpowdered,low free protein natural rubber latex gloves offer only a miniscule risk of latex allergy. Industrial type, i.e. thicker and reusable, natural rubber latex gloves have never been a problem as far as latex allergy is concerned.
Chris
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By ColinPink
Hello
That is really useful
Unless you have access to a decent resource at work its often difficult to work out what the sensible risks are and know where to start looking for infomation
Thank you both
Colin
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