Vinyl Gloves – Protection or Poison?

This article explains the food safety implications of vinyl gloves and their potential adverse effects on both human and environmental health,with food safe and cost-effective alternatives.

 

Human health

Up to 50% of disposable vinyl glove raw materials are made from plasticizers,which make PVC flexible and soft enough to wear.Often plasticizers contain the phthalates DiNP,DEHP,and BPA as they are inexpensive.

 

Phthalates

Phthalates have been shown to leach from products into the human body via ingestion,inhalation,and dermal absorption.Because they are not chemically bound to PVC,phthalate plasticizers can easily leach and evaporate into food,particularly fatty foods such as butter,oils,and meat – where they become mostly soluble.



Food safety & worker issues

Due to the microstructural organization of vinyl disposable gloves,there are associated risks that limit their performance and affect barrier protection,with the following food safety and worker related problems:

 

Studies highlight the lack of cross-linking of the PVC polymer and together with plasticizers which weaken the vinyl glove structure,micro-punctures will occur within only a few hand flexes or food handling tasks undertaken by the glove wearer.In some cases vinyl gloves begin leaking as soon as they are donned.

 

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders – Vinyl disposable gloves have a poor resistance to stretch and elongation. With reduced elasticity and flexibility, a thicker glove is required, increasing glove resistance and bulkiness, causing repetitive fatigue injuries and contact trauma to fingers and thumbs.

 

Cross-contamination risks of vinyl gloves

There is an accumulation of scientific evidence indicating vinyl disposable gloves (over other types) are more frequently responsible for cross-contamination events in food handling where glove type is identified.

 

The science of cross-contamination is complex,involving the physical chemistry of surfaces,soils and pathogens.Liquid and soil transfer to and from surfaces are controlled by forces of attraction governed by the surface tension of liquids (or semi-solids) and the surface free energy of surfaces.

 

Environmental impacts

A proper accounting of the human health impacts of PVC across its lifecycle,including manufacturing and disposal issues and occupational exposure,finds PVC leads to the release of dangerous quantities of dioxin and other carcinogens.A report from the US Green Building Council found,"When we add end of life with accidental landfill fires and backyard burning, the additional risk of dioxin emissions puts PVC consistently among the worst materials for human health impacts…"

Food safe vinyl glove alternatives

Nitrile gloves are a food safe and cost-effective alternative.Recent advances in the raw material formulations and manufacturing of nitrile gloves have resulted in thinner yet stronger, more flexible and better fitting gloves.The higher the quality of nitrile glove,the less failures (holes and rips),mitigating the risks of food contamination from a disposable glove.



评论

  1. donnaj edwards2020年10月15日 08:34

    Thank you for your articles that you have shared with us. Hopefully you can give the article a good benefit to us. Powder Free Vinyl Gloves

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