NIOSH
Publication No. 97-135:
Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber
Latex in the Workplace
June 1997
The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing
allergic reactions to natural rubber latex* among
workers who use gloves and other products containing
latex. Latex gloves have proved effective in preventing
transmission of many infectious diseases to health
care workers. But for some workers, exposures
to latex may result in skin rashes; hives; flushing;
itching; nasal, eye, or sinus symptoms; asthma;
and (rarely) shock. Reports of such allergic reactions
to latex have increased in recent years—especially
among health care workers.
At
present, scientific data are incomplete regarding
the natural history of latex allergy. Also, improvements
are needed in methods used to measure proteins
causing latex allergy. This Alert presents the
existing data and describes six case reports of
workers who developed latex allergy. The document
also presents NIOSH recommendations for minimizing
latex-related health problems in workers while
protecting them from infectious materials. These
recommendations include reducing exposures, using
appropriate work practices, training and educating
workers, monitoring symptoms, and substituting
nonlatex products when appropriate.
NIOSH
requests that employers, owners, editors of trade
journals, safety and health officials, and labor
unions bring the recom- mendations in this Alert
to the attention of all workers who may be exposed
to latex.
*In
this document, the term "latex" refers
to natural rubber latex and includes products
made from dry natural rubber. Natural rubber latex
is the product manufactured from a milky fluid
derived mainly from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis.
