COMPARISON TO LATEX GLOVES
The first, most obvious advantage of Nitrile gloves, as already discussed, is that all disposable Nitrile gloves are latex-free, which means that those with latex sensitivity and allergy can use them safely and comfortably. But there are many other benefits of using Nitrile Gloves over Latex:

Nitrile Gloves have a superior resistance to solvents and chemicals, making them especially useful in laboratory settings. Amongst the many brands of Nitrile gloves on the market, there are many different types of glove, designed to protect against different chemicals. It is always important to check that the specification of your gloves meets the requirements for the job you are carrying out.

In any setting, nitrile provides a very strong barrier against grease, oil and chemicals blocking the solvents from entering though the gloves and onto the hands.Overall, this makes Nitrile gloves safer than latex.

Versatility: There is a Nitrile glove designed to suit every purpose, every person and every application, from cleaning to scientific research.
Gloves range in thickness, length and cuff size, with differing amounts of optional texturing on the fingers and hands in order to provide the perfect level of grip.

Nitrile gloves are easier to slide on than latex and vinyl examination gloves due to their low resistance to friction. Cornstarch powder is used in the pre-powdered variety of gloves for two reasons: 1, to make the putting on and taking off as quick and easy as possible, thus making life that little bit easier for all users. 2, for absorbing perspiration from the hands.
The powder-free glove is more suited to situations where it is important to avoid powder contamination.

Nitrile gloves are fast becoming more popular than latex because of their higher degree of flexibility. The material is heat-sensitive and molds itself to the users hand, making a snug fit.

Many users of latex gloves have complained about the scent of latex rubber, and the fact that smells can pass through the gloves easily. Along with the chemicals and solvents blocked by the gloves, Nitrile gloves also block any smells of the chemicals, solvents etc. being used.

Superior comfort: owing to the fact that the nitrile material reacts to body temperatures and molds to the shape of the hand, creating a snug, comfortable fit. The extra advantage of this is that when fitting snugly, it is far easier to notice pinhole punctures, when they do occur. However, another advantage of Nitrile is that it is less susceptible to puncture than latex.

The absence, or near absence of pinholes makes these gloves unique. The few that may be found will be far smaller than those found in latex gloves. A Study carried out by the University of Glasgow measuring the incidence of punctures in latex and non-latex dental examination gloves found that… (ref: http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/187/) the puncture resistance of the nitrile gloves was superior to the puncture resistance of vinyl gloves.

And finally, the environmental impact: There is some debate over nitrile’s environmental benefits. The DfE (Design for the Environment) Agency are recommending nitrile gloves over latex, due to their durability. Their long-lasting nature means that they do not need to be replaced as often as latex gloves. They will, in fact, outlast latex by many times. While there are no specific statistics on the amount of examination gloves thrown away each day, there are certainly a significant number. It is generally thought that latex gloves discarded are having a negative impact on the environment and that the longer-lasting nitrile alternative should be used where possible.

 

Types of Reactions Produced by Latex Gloves
Immediate Hypersensitivity (Type I) - usually a response to the natural protein found in natural rubber latex. Such a reaction occurs almost immediately but usually subsides rapidly once contact with the latex has ended. Symptoms include local or generalised urticaria and oedema. In extreme cases, breathing difficulties and anaphylaxis may occur.

Delayed Hypersensitivity (Type IV) - predominantly caused by an allergy to the residues of accelerating agents used in the manufacturing process of gloves. (Such chemicals are used to develop the strength and stability of the material). Also known as allergic contact dermatitis, and characterized by a red rash on the back of the hands, the severity of this type of allergy varies greatly. It is often found between the fingers. The skin may become leathery and express papules or blisters. The reaction is delayed, occurring several hours after contact, reaching a peak after 24–48 hours and then subsiding. Repeated exposure to rubber latex may cause the condition to extend beyond the area of contact with the gloves.

Irritation - a non-allergic condition, the effects of which are usually reversible. When latex gloves are used, a rash may occur on the back of the hands that is characteristically dry and itchy. These symptoms usually diminish when contact with latex is discontinued.
Powdered latex gloves carry an additional risk to sensitised individuals: the powder absorbs potentially allergenic natural proteins from the latex and then either becomes airborne as the gloves are removed, or may be carried on the wearer's clothing. This powder can cause Type 1 contact urticaria and even anaphylactic reactions. For this reason, powdered latex gloves should be avoided.
If latex gloves are chosen, then only good-quality, protein-free gloves should be used. The washing process used in glove manufacture should remove substantial amounts of proteins and process residues that cause problems. However some manufacturers may not be as thorough. Continuity of supply and a reliable manufacturing source are crucial to minimising health problems in wearers and patients.

History
The fairly recent need for a new glove material arose because of the high incidences of allergic reaction to latex and its low chemical resistance when compared with nitrile. But going further back in history to the 1870s, pioneering surgeons began using early types of rubber medical gloves as a greater understanding of the necessity for hygiene in a medical setting arose. The protective glove as we know it today is attributed to William Stewart Halstead, in 1889. He was the first to use sterilised medical gloves when working at John Hopkins University. Halsted used carbolic acid to sterilise his hands and those of the nurse working with him. It became apparent that she was sensitive to the chemical when her skin began to redden and blister. So Halsted looked for a solution by asking the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company if they could make a glove of rubber that could be dipped in carbolic acid. After wearing the gloves for a short period, the nurse’s hands began to heal and she subsequently married Halstead. The gloves may or may not have had something to do with this!

Early rubber gloves were made by dissolving solidified natural rubber into a substance called naphtha. Ceramic hand shapes were dipped into the solution until a number of layers had built up and the glove was sufficiently thick to provide protection. The only problem was that the naphtha weakened the natural properties of the latex.

As natural latex is sticky, the gloves were dusted with talcum powder inside and out to make them easier to put on. Just after the war, it was realised that the presence of talc was causing a number of problems such as post-operative adhesions and granulomas. Cornstarch was introduced as a more biologically friendly alternative, but it caused similar complications, particularly in patients whose systems failed to cope with the starch particles. A new process was developed called chlorination, which created a smooth inner surface to the glove and reduced the stickiness of the latex. The chlorination process, if properly executed, reduces the gloves' extractable protein content to below the level of detection. Many (but by no means all) laboratory staff with known sensitivity to rubber proteins can wear chlorinated latex gloves without experiencing a skin reaction.

A shortage of natural rubber during World War II led to the development of several synthetic polymers, including nitrile and vinyl. These polymers have a number of benefits over natural latex, including greater resistance to oils and chemicals.
The first disposable latex medical gloves were manufactured in 1964 by Ansell, Part of Australian Dunlop. They later used the glove production technique to make condoms.

In the 1990's demand for latex gloves soared due to fears of HIV infection. At that time there was minimal regulation and there were many reports of accidents caused by the tearing and puncturing of latex gloves. It was clear that a stronger material was needed.
It was not only the rise in latex allergy that brought about calls for an alternative to Latex.
Karen E. Wetterhahn, a Dartmouth College chemistry professor, died tragically as a result of the poor chemical resistance of latex gloves in 1997. A few drops of dimethylmercury penetrated her latex gloves in less than 15 seconds.

The Present: Why Nitrile gloves are becoming more popular today in the laboratory.
Many laboratories are now switching from latex gloves, to Nitrile in an attempt to decrease latex allergy occurrence in workers. This is causing a significant reduction in accidents, injury and loss of time spent productively in research ad experimentation.

As diseases such as AIDS have become more prevalent in recent years, and with continual health scares such as MRSA and Bird Flu, the concern of healthcare workers and patients about the quality of medical gloves has increased. Practitioners need guarantees about the quality, strength and durability of a glove.

Various Barrier Performance studies have been conducted resulting in the confirmation of Nitrile as the most effective barrier to infection.
Available in many different shapes and sizes, the gloves are designed to perfectly suit the hands that use them, as well as the setting in which they are being used. The many companies manufacturing Nitrile gloves offer gloves in a wide range of thickness suited to the application, from ultra thin to extra thick. There are different cuff lengths, from hand covering to entire arm coverage. There are also differing textures to provide the right amount of grip suitable for the job.

Tough, yet gentle on the hands, Nitrile gloves are becoming increasingly popular not only in the laboratory, but with medical workers, paramedics, automotive workers and other industries, as they are less likely to cause accidents, irritation and allergy. They are the best choice when it comes to working with solvents, oils, greases, some acids and bases.

There have been some concerns raised over Nitrile gloves decreasing dexterity in smaller hand motions. Some studies have found Nitrile gloves to give 8.6 less finger dexterity. However the change was small and there was no gross loss in dexterity in normal movements when using Nitrile gloves over latex.

Nitrile gloves may impede smaller finger actions to a very small degree, but will not affect larger movements of the hands and arms and there should be no appreciable loss of deftness and dexterity. Nitrile laboratory gloves provide high levels of dexterity, which meet the essential government requirements in order to reduce risk of accidents and injury.Gloves come powder-free or powdered with cornstarch to enable greater ease of sliding on and off.

 

In all, the modern disposable glove is becoming more practical, with Nitrile far less likely to cause annoyance, irritation and allergy.