Nitrile Glove Recycling Assessment

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2012

Background: The selection of disposable nitrile exam gloves is complicated by (i) the availability of several types or formulations, (ii) product variability, and (iii) an inability of common quality control tests to detect small holes in the fingers. Differences in polymer formulation (e.g. filler and plasticizer/oil content) and tensile properties are expected to account for much of the observed variability in performance. Objectives: This study evaluated the tensile properties and integrity (leak failure rates) of two glove choices assumed to contain different amounts of plasticizers/oils. The primary aims were to determine if the tensile properties and integrity differed and if associations existed among these factors. Additional physical and chemical properties were evaluated. Methods: Six clean room and five low-modulus products were evaluated using the American Society for Testing and Materials Method D412 and a modified water-leak test to detect holes capable of passing a virus or chemical agent. Results: Significant differences in the leak failure rates and tensile properties existed between the two glove types (P 0.05). The clean room gloves were about three times more likely to have leak failures (chi-square; P 5 0.001). No correlation was observed between leak failures and tensile properties. Solvent extract, an indication of added plasticizer/oil, was not associated with leak failures. However, gloves with a maximum modulus ,4 MPa or area density (AD) ,11 g cm À2 were about four times less likely to leak. Conclusions: On average, the low-modulus gloves were a better choice for protection against aqueous chemical or biological penetration. The observed variability between glove products indicated that glove selection cannot rely solely on glove type or manufacturer labeling. Measures of modulus and AD may aid in the selection process, in contrast with common measures of tensile strength and elongation at break.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2011

Every year, millions of health care, first responder, and industry workers are exposed to chemical and biological hazards. Disposable nitrile gloves are a common choice as both a chemical and physical barrier to these hazards, especially as an alternative to natural latex gloves. However, glove selection is complicated by the availability of several types or formulations of nitrile gloves, such as low-modulus, medical-grade, low-filler, and cleanroom products. This study evaluated the influence of simulated movement on the physical integrity (i.e., holes) of different nitrile exam glove brands and types. Thirty glove products were evaluated out-of-box and after exposure to simulated whole-glove movement for 2 hr. In lieu of the traditional 1-L water-leak test, a modified water-leak test, standardized to detect a 0.15 ± 0.05 mm hole in different regions of the glove, was developed. A specialized air inflation method simulated bidirectional stretching and whole-glove movement. A worst-case scenario with maximum stretching was evaluated. On average, movement did not have a significant effect on glove integrity (chi-square; p=0.068). The average effect was less than 1% between no movement (1.5%) and movement (2.1%) exposures. However, there was significant variability in glove integrity between different glove types (p ≤ 0.05). Cleanroom gloves, on average, had the highest percentage of leaks, and 50% failed the water-leak test. Low-modulus and medical-grade gloves had the lowest percentages of leaks, and no products failed the water-leak test. Variability in polymer formulation was suspected to account for the observed discrepancies, as well as the inability of the traditional 1-L water-leak test to detect holes in finger/thumb regions. Unexpectedly, greater than 80% of the glove defects were observed in the finger and thumb regions. It is recommended that existing water-leak tests be re-evaluated and standardized to account for product variability.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2005

Greenhouse applicators' acceptance of cotton knit gloves worn as liners under nitrile chemical-resistant gloves (CRG) for pesticide application was investigated through a wear study in Iowa and New York. Comfort was assessed by questionnaires and interviews with 10 applicators. Contamination levels of four pesticides on CRG and liners at thumb, forefinger, palm, and cuff locations were determined by chemical analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography. Applicators reported feeling more comfortable with cotton liners under their CRG than without and that cotton liners were easy to manage. Contamination was significantly greater on nitrile CRG than on cotton liners underneath, but a few liner specimens had measurable contamination. No significant contamination differences were found between right-and left-hand gloves. Contamination varied significantly by hand location, with cuffs least, and by pesticide, with chlorpyrifos most. These results support the Environmental Protection Agency's recommendation that liners should be disposable, but further work on liners and their laundering feasibility seems indicated.

Launched in May 2011, the new global magazine Southern Innovator is about the people across the global South shaping our new world, eradicating poverty and working towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They are the innovators. Issue 1 covered the theme of mobile phones and information technology. Issue 2 covered the theme of youth and entrepreneurship. Issue 3 covered the theme of agribusiness and food security. Issue 4 covered the theme of cities and urbanization. Issue 5 covers the theme of waste and recycling.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the permeation of an aqueous emulsion of the pesticide, captan, as a wettable powder (48.9% captan) through a disposable nitrile glove material using an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-type I-PTC-600 permeation cell. The goal was to investigate the protective capability of the gloves against dermatitis. The analytical method was based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). The least quantifiable limit (LQL) was 6 ng for GC-ECD and 30 ng for GC-MS. Testing was conducted using the ASTM F739 closed-loop permeation method and a worst-case aqueous concentration 217 mg/ml of captan 50-WP. The average permeation rates were low, with 12±5 ng/(cm 2 min) after 2 h, 50±25 ng/(cm 2 min) after 4 h, and 77±58 ng/(cm 2 min) after 8 h. The calculated diffusion coefficient was (1.28±0.10)×10 −5 cm 2 /h. No significant swelling or shrinkage occurred at P ≤ 0.05. Infrared (IR) reflectance analysis of pre-and post-exposure glove surfaces confirmed no outer or inner surface degradation. The disposable nitrile glove showed excellent resistance to a highly concentrated aqueous emulsion of captan. Because the ASTM normalized breakthrough detection time of 250 ng/cm 2 was <2 h, these gloves should not be reused once worn, and decontamination is not advised. Protection is also advised for agricultural reentry field workers, because captan has been shown to persist on crops with a half-life greater than the current reentry intervals of 1-4 days.

International Journal of New Practices in Management and Engineering

Bundling materials for calculated intentions are intended to ensure electrical and electronic items and other delicate purchaser products from harms because of stun and over the top vibrations during dealing with and transportation. There is as of late an expanded worry for the improvement of very much planned as well as practical materials. Material maintainability is frequently connected with the extraction of sustainable assets and removal techniques that would not harm our biological system. In this regard, home-grown agro-squander assets would be a savvy choice to create unimportant and expendable green equipment effortlessly. This article features a portion of the answer utilities or elements of bundling supplies and the financially accessible bundling. The possibility of biodegradable materials including indigenous common strands and a case of totally compostable business bundling substance are illustrated. Fundamental aftereffects of stun padding test on surface-adjusted pol...

2009

In accordance to the planned construction of a new Student Union Building (SUB) on the University of Columbia (UBC) campus, an evaluation is conducted on potential utensils to be implemented at the SUB. The new SUB will accommodate space for offices, clubrooms and most importantly, a new cafeteria. Similar to the current SUB, the new SUB will house more fast food outlets than any other area on campus. Of particular concern is the amount of food waste produced from the SUB. To minimize the environmental impact and head toward a more sustainable future, the focus is put on biodegradable utensils. This report is an investigation on biodegradable utensils from two companies-Biodegradable Solutions International [BSI] and Biodegradable Food Service [BFS]. UBC Food Services currently purchases utensils from the former. The products of both companies are evaluated in accordance to the triple bottom line assessment. The triple bottom line assessment is a criterion for evaluating the environmental, social and economic impacts of a product. In this report, the assessment is described in a linear manner across the product's life cycle. The life cycle of the products are broken up into the steps of extraction, manufacture, transport and disposal. A thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis is conducted at each step of the product's life. Energy, cost, environmental harm and societal factors are calculated, evaluated and compared. The results conclude that BFS products are superior to BSI products on all fronts. Calculations show that BFS uses less energy in the production of utensils than BSI. This is due to the fact that BFS uses potato wash as opposed to corn starch as a raw material in production. Potato wash is a waste byproduct that can be collected, whereas corn needs to be grown. Farming corn for industrial purposes raises the market price of corn and contributes to adverse effects on society and the economy. BSI products are also found to be partially incompatible with UBC's in-vessel composter. BFS products, on the other hand, have fulfilled the ASTM D-6400 requirement for composting and are likely to be more compostable. For these reasons, it is recommended for the new SUB to implement BFS utensils as an alternative to BSI products.

2021

The human cost of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a great toll, and led, around the globe, to a shortage in personal protective equipment (PPE) such as medical exam gloves. To face this shortage and keep themselves and patients safe, many front-line healthcare providers have been overextending the life of PPE. Though not ideal, one pragmatic solution often used is the practice of sanitization and extended use of existing PPE. The data produced by these experiments should help determine an acceptable reusability window of PPE in a working environment, by which the effective use time may be extended and justified. The effect of repeated sanitization, using soap and water, on the mechanical performance was investigated for latex and nitrile elastomeric medical exam gloves. Tensile tests were performed for various manufacturer brands commonly used in the United States (Glovepak Europa, Polymed and Sempersure) and India (Surgiglove). Tensile test samples were prepared for each studied gl...

A c a d e m i c PR RODUC ODUC rohens, Ph rohens, PhD and and A Abderrahim Boudenne, Ph bderrahim Boudenne, Ph P r e s s YCLING AND REUSE YCLING AND REUSE IALS IALS ODUC ODUC

The recycling of material resources lies at the heart of the industrial ecology (IE) metaphor. The very notion of the industrial ecosystem is motivated by the idea that we should learn from natural ecosystems how to “close the loop.” Recycling is not just central to IE, it is part of everyday life. Unfortunately, how the IE community and the public at large think about recycling includes several misconceptions that have the potential to misguide environmental assessments, policies, and actions that deal with recycling and thus undermine its environmental potential. One misconception stems from naïve assumptions regarding recycled material displacing primary production. Two others assert the environmental advantages of recycling material multiple times, or at least in a closed loop. A final misconception is the assumption that the distinction between closed and open recycling loops is generally useful. This article explains why these misconceptions are flawed, discusses the implications, and presents an alternative set of principles to better harness the potential environmental benefits of closing material loops.