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The topic of latex allergy is one where there is much misinformation. Latex allergy is a type I immune response due to a reaction to certain proteins contained in the finished glove material. The evidence is that this was an issue only with the thin single-use gloves, typically used in healthcare and laboratories (where they may have been the incorrect glove anyway due to the chemicals being used). To become airborne the small proteins need a carrier, and this is provided by the powder used in the cheap, high free protein gloves. This is a modified corn starch, the surface of which is ideal for the proteins to attach themselves to and light so it can float in the air and be inhaled. Inhalation is the more common form of exposure causing sensitisation, but it can also happen with skin exposure, particularly if the skin is not in good condition (e.g. due to excessive hand washing or long term wearing of occlusive gloves). Actually, much more common was/is the type IV allergic reaction to the chemicals used in the manufacture of natural rubber latex gloves (usually called chemical or rubber allergy). Incidentally many of these sensitising chemicals can be found in nitrile gloves and type IV allergic reactions to nitrile is now becoming an increasingly important issue. If you consider the German state healthcare sector, the standard examination glove used is a low free protein, natural rubber latex glove and in the words of one of their experts on this, Prof. Henning Allmers, "Latex allergy is history". Incidentally, the most common reaction to this type of glove is irritant contact dermatitis due to the occlusion, called "hydration dermatitis" by Prof. Kigman. Wearing of occlusive gloves for more than two hours in total in any 8 hour shift is considered a skin hazard in Germany's technical regulations on hazardous substances and by the RCN in its document on gloves in healthcare ("Tools of the trade"). Chris Chris

If you take a look at the Royal College of Physicians website you should find their document on latex allergy where they reviewed the evidence. This came to the same conclusion that I came to many years ago that provided you avoid the cheap, powdered, high free protein single use natural rubber latex gloves latex allergy is a relatively insignificant risk compared with the other risks arising out of glove use. Chris