RE: Latex Gloves

["Flora, Jason" <jgf7@cdc.gov>]

For those interested:

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
published an ALERT document in August 1997 on 
"Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex
in the Workplace".   Publication #97-135

Copies can be obtained without charge by writing:
Publications Dissemination, EID
NIOSH
4676 Columbia Pkwy 
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
1-800-356-4674


(Comments are those of the author and may not represent the views of
NIOSH)
				
				Jason Flora
				NIOSH 
				DSHEFS/HERB
				4676 Columbia Pkwy R-44
				Cincinnati, OH 45226

			Voice:	513 841-4464
			Fax:	513 841-4470
			Email:	jgf7@cdc.gov



 

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Alan R. Marchand [SMTP:radarm@accessnv.com]
> Sent:	Sunday, May 10, 1998 10:08 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Latex Gloves
> 
> The following article was in The Washington Post. Since this article
> is long I
> just listed the begining of the article. Go to
> "<http://www.washingtonpost.com/>www.washingtonpost.com/" for the full
> article.
> 
> Allergies Lead to Wave of Lawsuits Against Latex Glove Makers
> By Avram Goldstein
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Saturday, May 9, 1998; Page A12 
> 
> Buoyed by a $1 million jury award to a Milwaukee hospital technician
> who
> developed a severe allergy to natural rubber latex gloves, hundreds of
> U.S.
> health care workers are suing glove manufacturers, alleging they knew
> prolonged exposure could cause reactions from mild skin irritations to
> deadly ailments.
> 
> In the last year, a steady stream of new claims against latex glove
> manufacturers has been filed in federal court in Philadelphia, where
> about
> 150 cases from across the country have been consolidated for pretrial
> purposes. About 50 more plaintiffs are suing in other courts, raising
> the
> specter of millions of dollars' worth of judgments against
> manufacturers.
> 
> The Food and Drug Administration is considering a ban on certain latex
> gloves that are more apt to cause allergies in users. The agency also
> will
> require manufacturers to place allergy warnings on packages of gloves
> and
> prohibit them from describing gloves as "hypoallergenic."
> 
> Industry leaders acknowledge that some natural rubber latex gloves can
> cause health problems, but they say that until researchers determine
> how
> much latex exposure is a health problem, they have no plans to change
> their processes or products.
> 
> "If the FDA says these gloves cause more harm than good, we would be
> in
> agreement with them," said Donna Gaidamak, spokeswoman for
> Allegiance Healthcare Corp., the largest distributor of latex and
> synthetic
> gloves.
> 
> Scientists and government officials estimate that about 950,000 U.S.
> health
> care workers who wear gloves because they come into contact with
> patients or blood have developed an allergic sensitivity to latex.
> Some have
> experienced skin rashes, respiratory ailments or potentially fatal
> shock.