Latex gloves are commonly used in the laboratory environment when it is expected that the risk of chemical contact is low and the desire to have high dexterity and low cost gloves is the major factor for selection. However, that can be a fatal mistake when the chemicals used are highly toxic and the latex material is easily permeated by the chemicals. An incident has recently occurred that dramatically underscores this inadequate glove selection risk.

Karen Watterhahn, age 48, was a Dartmouth College Chemistry Professor studying the effects of how dimethyl mercury prevents the repair of cells. As so many research scientists would do, she decided to use a pair of common latex gloves while she worked with this chemical, since the risk seemed low for skin contact.

Nevertheless, she did spill perhaps only a drop or two of the dimethyl mercury on her gloves, a minor spillage that would probably not be significant with most chemicals. However, since this specific chemical easily permeated the gloves, this was no insignificant spill. In fact it was a fatal one.

The incident occurred last August, but it was not until the following January that she first noted symptoms. It began with her loss of balance, difficulty speaking, and hearing loss. The results of blood tests indicated that she had 80 times what was considered to be a lethal dose of mercury in her blood. She went in a coma in February and died on June 8.

Skin disorders and poisoning from chemical exposure, much of which are preventable with appropriate protective clothing, are, in fact, the most frequently observed example of occupational hygiene related illness.

For anyone handling chemicals, especially university researchers handling highly toxic chemicals, the tragic Dartmouth story sends a clear and unequivocal message that is extremely important that they not only wear gloves, but also make sure that the gloves they are wearing are compatible with the chemicals that they are handling. This evaluation needs to be done well ahead of the actual work with the chemicals, so that the correct gloves are available in the lab before any chemical handling takes place.

At HKUST, HSEO has recently obtained and made available through the Library, a CD ROM database for glove selection. For given gloves, such as a particular model of latex gloves, this reference will tell you what the permeation rate is for the gloves and whether or not they are suitable for handling specific chemicals. This “Instant Gloves” database is located under the “Science” database button and can be accessed by PC’s on our network running on Windows 3.1.

An additional word of caution needs to be made regarding glove use. Gloves need to be changed out frequently, not reused indefinitely. Walk-through safety reviews conducted by SEPO have found that many gloves lying around on bench tops, at various locations across the campus, are discolored and showing visible evidence of degradation. Gloves that may even be reasonably compatible with given chemicals, when used repeatedly over time, may no longer offer adequate protection. Chemicals that may permeate only very slowly through a glove will have the opportunity to migrate through the glove when the glove is repeatedly exposed to the chemical over time. Also, when the fabric of the glove becomes deteriorated, the glove allows the chemicals to pass through quickly. The Instant Gloves database has information as to whether repeated usage of the glove is appropriate and periodic visual inspection of gloves is needed to alert for signs of permeation and deterioration.

In summary, proper selection and care of chemical protective gloves is serious business, in fact, potentially even a matter of life and death. We have convenient tools to make good glove selection in our Campus library. Also, we need to maintain quality gloves in good condition. These safety measures are worth the modest costs and the expenditure of time when the consequences of improper diligence can be so severe.

Three of the four accidents in April involved eye injuries to students and a staff. Fortunately, the injuries were minor. These accidents could have been prevented if proper eye protective equipment were use. In this regard, please remember to comply with the requirement to use proper eye protection when engaging in potentially hazardous operations.

The basic eye protection in workshops and laboratories is a pair of industrial safety glasses. Depending on the nature of the operation, other types of protection such as goggles and face shields may be required.

Please contact Dr. May Chan (6511) for questions on the use, limitation and availability of eye protective equipment.