Permeability of different types of medical protective gloves to acrylic monomers

Abstract

Dental personnel and orthopedic surgeons are at risk when manually handling products containing methyl methacrylate (MMA). Dental products may also contain cross-linking agents such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) or 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate (1,4-BDMA). Skin contact with monomers can cause hand eczema, and the protection given by gloves manufactured from different types of material is not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the breakthrough time (BTT, min) as a measure of protection (according to the EU standard EN-374-3) for a mixture consisting of MMA, EGDMA and 1,4-BDMA. Fifteen different gloves representing natural rubber latex material, synthetic rubber material (e.g. nitrile rubbers), and synthetic polymer material were tested. The smallest monomer MMA permeated within 3 min through all glove materials. A polyethylene examination glove provided the longest protection period to EGDMA and 1, 4-BDMA (> 120 min and 25.0 min), followed by the surgical glove Tactylon (6.0 min and 8.7 min) and the nitrile glove Nitra Touch (5.0 min and 8.7 min). This study showed that the breakthrough time (based on permeation rate) cannot be regarded as a 'safe limit'. When the permeation rate is low, monomers may have permeated before BTT can be determined. Using double gloves with a synthetic rubber inner glove and a natural rubber outer glove provided longer protection when the inner glove was rinsed in water before placing the outer glove on top.

Effect of Phosphoric Acid Pre-etching on Fatigue Limits of Self-etching Adhesives

“…One of the reported drawbacks of HEMA is the potential for allergenic issues, especially to the skin. 40,41 Other problems reported 29,42 include deterioration of mechanical properties of the polymerized adhesive caused by its characteristics, which enhance water uptake, swelling, and staining.…”

Occupational skin exposure and hand eczema among dental technicians—need for improved prevention

“…The glove material most frequently used was PVC, which is gratifying, considering the possible side-effects of natural rubber latex (20). Protection against MA is similar for PVC, natural rubber latex, and nitrile rubber and unfortunately lasts only for a few minutes (17,18). This short protection time implies that a frequent change of gloves is necessary to achieve proper skin protection.…”

“…It seems, however, that participation in such training contributes to better knowledge of skin protection. The use of double layers of protective gloves in order to increase the protection against MA has been discussed (18). Whenever possible, nontouch techniques should be preferred when MA is handled, but, in manual dental technicians' work, such techniques are probably difficult to apply fully.…”

“…Since protective gloves are permeable to MA, there are obvious problems involved in protecting the skin (17,18). Besides gloves can be considered to obstruct the work.…”

Time Sensitivity Associated with Application of HEMA-free Adhesive

“…Fast penetration of this monomer through gloves and through skin due to its low molecular weight can cause contact dermatitis (allergic reaction type IV) [6,7]. HEMA may also deteriorate the mechanical properties of the polymerized adhesive, which can result in inferior mechanical strength of the cured adhesive, enhanced water uptake, swelling and marginal staining.…”