Personal Note From Patrick, The Editor

Hi Reader, it is a pleasure to have you!

Today, we dive into the world of gloves.

In 2021, approximately 6.4 billion gloves were imported into the US every month.

Many of these gloves come from Malaysia, the world's biggest producer, frequently raising questions about working conditions.

It's a painful topic that is rarely addressed because we certainly need gloves in our laboratories.

Unfortunately, we are seldomly educated on gloves, especially when it comes to their properties and environmental impact.

Nevertheless, we will change that today:

Number Of The Day

During a pilot program at the University of Washington, researchers in Molecular Engineering and Materials Science reduced the proportion of waste by gloves by 13%. Originally, gloves made up 23% of all lab waste. Additionally, they were able to introduce a nitrile glove recycling program in 2016.

13%

Sharing Ideas With Others

Gloves were introduced in the biomedical field in the 1890s.

A doctor wanted to protect one of his nurses (and later wife) from a skin reaction she had due to harsh disinfectants.

However, it wasn't until the 1960s that single-use gloves gained widespread adoption.

Glove Types

Today, we see three main types of gloves in the lab:

• Vinyl gloves are made of PVC, a polymer created from the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomers. They are sometimes used because of their low cost, however, they are the least durable and flexible.

• Nitrile gloves consist of nitrile rubber, produced through polymerization. Higher acrylonitrile content improves chemical resistance, while higher butadiene content enhances flexibility and elasticity. They provide higher chemical and puncture resistance, with acceptable fit and feel.

• Latex gloves are made from natural rubber, a biopolymer harvested by tapping rubber trees to collect latex sap. The proteins in there are also part of the reason for allergies that might develop. These gloves offer the best fit, tactile sensitivity, and reasonable chemical resistance.

Safety

When assessing the safety of gloves, two common terms are often encountered:

• Breakthrough Time: The time it takes to detect a substance inside the glove when the outside is exposed to a chemical.

• Permeation Rate: The rate at which a substance passes through glove material once breakthrough occurs.

The following factors influence these safety measures:

A) The type of glove (e.g., nitrile is better than vinyl).

B) The thickness (measured in mils).

C) The wear and tear of your gloves.

Unfortunately, variations among glove types, producers, and even batches are significant.

For example, breakthrough times for ethanol can range from 8 to 66 minutes, and for chloroform, from 2 to 8 minutes.

Significantly thicker gloves provide better protection but reduce sensitivity and increase their environmental footprint.

Recycling & Sustainability

Theoretically, the most sustainable glove is the latex one because it is made from organic material, and rubber trees do not have to be cut down for harvest. However:

- Rubber tree planting is responsible for up to 40% deforestation in certain areas

- Although latex gloves are biodegradable, composting is neither straightforward nor common

- Latex can also be generated synthetically using petrochemicals (an overview can be found here)

- Additives and contamination make composting unlikely, so it is estimated that only a fraction of gloves is actually recycled.

Additives are chemicals that assist during production, making gloves more stable or flexible, but are often toxic to humans and the environment (for a deeper dive click here).

Technically, any glove that touches something in the laboratory or is worn in a biosafety area is considered contaminated, therefore, sustainable practice is most efficient "upstream"

Sustainable Practices

Purchasing

• Organic latex is the most sustainable material, but check the sourcing and production processes. Consider rotating between latex and nitrile to avoid allergies.
• Choose lighter gloves unless chemical protection is a major concern (only significant differences in thickness matter for protection)

Use

• Only take gloves when you are certain you will start your work.
• Reuse gloves as long as they are intact.
• Choose gloves according to the task at hand (e.g., based on work duration or the need for protection).
• Don’t let gloves deteriorate—if left unused for too long, they may start to fall apart once touched.

Recycling

• Some take-back and recycling programs exist, depending on your location. But ... double-check their validity.

Applying The Knowledge

Remember your health comes first - each health issue will be much more impactful than a glove wasted!

1) Become aware of the type of glove you are using and decide whether it is the right choice for you.

2) Over time, gloves become less resistant due to heat from your body and movement. This effect can reduce their effectiveness by a significant percentage after wearing them for a few hours.

3) If you spill a toxic chemical on your glove, there’s no need to panic; your gloves will protect you for a few minutes on average. However, change them as soon as it is safe to do so.

The easiest step is to reuse gloves and avoid wasting them. If they are not contaminated, there is no need to discard them as biohazardous waste.

Upcoming Lesson:

The Net Zero Problem

Asking You

"What is the approximate order of magnitude of the carbon footprint associated with a single glove?"

How We Feel Today

If you have a wish or a question, feel free to reply to this Email.​
Otherwise, wish you a beatiful week!
See you again the 22nd: )

Find the previous lesson click - here -​

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Edited by Patrick Penndorf
Connection@ReAdvance.com
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