Difference Between Latex, Vinyl and Nitrile

Disposable gloves are one of the most widely used personal protective equipment (PPE) in medical, food service, chemical, primary-care and aged care, life science and industrial industries. There are many things to consider when choosing a glove including quality, protection, and allergies. The three main materials when searching for disposable gloves are: Latex, Nitrile and Vinyl. Here we explain the differences between these three materials and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Its soft and stretchy properties make it an ideal material to provide a proper fitting to any palm shape and size. NRL offers a degree of resistance to tearing and has shown to self-seal small punctures. They also boast strong elastic properties, offering reliable performance and barrier protection against infection and contamination.

Often the primary reason to consider an alternative to the traditional latex glove is the potential for people to be allergic to the latex proteins found in the glove. In the worst-case scenario, a person susceptible to a Type 1 allergy can experience an anaphylactic seizure.

What is a Latex Allergy?

 A latex allergy is a reaction to certain proteins in latex rubber. The amount of latex exposure needed to produce sensitisation or an allergic reaction is currently unknown (CDC, 2020). However, increasing the exposure to latex proteins increases the risk of developing allergic symptoms. In sensitised individuals, symptoms usually begin within minutes of exposure but can occur hours later and vary in severity. Mild reactions involve skin redness, rash, hives, or itching, while more severe reactions may involve respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and asthma (difficult breathing, coughing spells, and wheezing). Rarely, shock may occur however, a life-threatening reaction is seldom the first sign of latex allergy (AAFA, 2020).

While allergic reactions can occur from latex proteins as well as chemical accelerators, they do not occur with corn-starch itself (AAFA, 2017). However, latex proteins can leach from the glove and stick to the corn-starch causing particles to become airborne when gloves are changed, and spread latex into the local environment (AAFA, 2020). Mun’s range of gloves, including its latex options, are powder-free. Consequently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use and sale of powdered disposable gloves in the US (FDA, 2017).

Advantages	Disadvantages
Comfort Very elastic and strong Good dexterity Acts and fits like a second skin Has a high level of tactility	Latex can be an allergen Lower resistance to punctures Lower chemical resistance Not as chemical resistant as nitrile

They offer little protection from chemicals and micro-organisms but are suited for short-term handling of non-hazardous materials and chemicals. They also do not offer quite as good dexterity as nitrile and latex gloves and can come powdered with a layer of corn-starch for easy donning and doffing. (read more on problems associated with powdered gloves). Other disadvantages include higher rates of chemical permeation compared to other materials, high chemical residue, more pinholes, and a stiff and loose fit which causes muscle fatigue.

Certain vinyl gloves use activation agents that can also cause skin allergies (Gnaneswaran, et al., 2008). The less a glove is washed, the more chemical residue is available for potential contact with the user. Chemical accelerators, which are used in the production of gloves such as carbonates & thiurams, may also cause skin reactions (Gnaneswaran, et al., 2008). Many companies have also announced that vinyl gloves pose high food safety risks (Huddle, 2018; PBC, 2020).

Advantages	Disadvantages
Latex-free Good for short-term, low-risk tasks Long shelf life	Less dexterity due to a stiffer & looser fit Higher rate of chemical permeation High chemical residue Susceptible to punctures/pinholes Do not offer much chemical resistance Powdered gloves cause skin irritation from prolonged use

Advantages	Disadvantages
Latex-free Excellent puncture resistance Can be worn for longer periods of time Work well for high-risk situations involving infectious materials High chemical resistance A higher level of durability and tactility Best to wear an extended amount of time	The synthetic nitrile rubber polymer is also not as cheap to produce as vinyl or latex

Reference

1. Aafa.org. 2020. Latex Allergy | AAFA.Org. [online] Available at: <https://www.aafa.org/latex-allergy/> [Accessed 25 September 2020].
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014. Latex Allergy A Prevention Guide. [online] Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-113/default.html> [Accessed 28 September 2020].
3. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2020. Nitrile Rubber | Synthetic Rubber. [online] Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/technology/nitrile-rubber> [Accessed 28 September 2020].
4. Gnaneswaran, V., Mudhunuri, B. and Bishu, R., 2008. A study of latex and vinyl gloves: Performance versus allergy protection properties. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 38(2), pp.171-181.
5. Huddle, C., 2018. Company Stops Selling Vinyl Gloves; Cites Food Safety Risks | Food Safety News. [online] Food Safety News. Available at: <https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/01/company-stops-selling-vinyl-gloves-cites-food-safety-risks/> [Accessed 6 October 2020].
6. PBC, E., 2020. Eagle Nitrile Like Teflon & Reduce Pathogen Cross-Contamination Risk. [online] Info.eagleprotect.com. Available at: <https://info.eagleprotect.com/eagle-nitrile-like-teflon-reduce-pathogen-risk> [Accessed 6 October 2020].
7. Tabary, M., Araghi, F., Nasiri, S. and Dadkhahfar, S., 2020. Dealing with skin reactions to gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, pp.1-2.
8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2017. Medical Device Bans. [online] Available at: <https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-safety/medical-device-bans> [Accessed 28 September 2020].
9. Vaysse, L., Bonfils, F., Sainte-Beuve, J. and Cartault, M., 2012. Natural Rubber. Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference, pp.281-293.
10. Vinyl Council Australia. 2020. About Vinyl – Vinyl Council Of Australia. [online] Available at: <https://vinyl.org.au/about-vinyl> [Accessed 28 September 2020].