Nitrile Gloves: Safety
Nitrile gloves are considered the most protective type of disposable gloves on the market. Puncture-proof, tear-proof, chemical-resistant, and non-irritating nitrile gloves are the go-to in numerous industries, from healthcare to mechanics.
Naturally, you want to know you are safe and protected when using nitrile gloves. In this article, we cover all the most common safety questions we hear about nitrile gloves.
Check You’re Buying Accelerator-Free Nitrile Gloves
Accelerators are chemicals added to the composition of some disposable gloves. These chemicals transform the liquid materials used to make gloves into durable, stretchy films.
Accelerators can produce contact dermatitis in some wearers. Symptoms of this are often mistaken for nitrile allergy. However, the accelerators could cause this allergy rather than nitrile copolymer. Common accelerators in nitrile gloves are dithiocarbamates, thiurams, guanidines, thiazoles, and thioureas.
Reactions to accelerators in those who do have them are akin to poison ivy reactions with blisters and open wounds. Accelerators can also cause contact dermatitis with symptoms like redness, itching, and dry skin. It’s difficult to tell the difference between nitrile allergy and accelerator irritation, so you may need to isolate the problem by trying disposable nitrile accelerator-free gloves. If you still have the response, you’re more likely to have a nitrile allergy.
Buy accelerator-free nitrile exam gloves to protect your hands from irritation. See the table further down the page for which gloves to buy. Steroplast Healthcare sells a range of accelerator-free nitrile gloves UK customers trust for complete protection.
Can you be allergic to nitrile gloves?
A number of skin reactions have been reported in the use of all types of disposable gloves, including nitrile gloves. A study of glove use during the Covid-19 pandemic found that irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and contact urticaria were some of the common nitrile glove allergies.
Use the flow chart below for steps to prevent irritation caused by nitrile gloves.
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Are nitrile gloves latex free?
In the same 2020 study on the use of disposable gloves, latex allergy was reported to have increased by 17% among healthcare workers during the pandemic. Research suggests that under 1 in every 1,000 people have a latex allergy in the UK, but increased exposure to latex can lead to an increased chance of developing a latex allergy.
Many people wonder, “do nitrile gloves have latex in them?” Many nitrile glove products do contain latex, but not all. We don’t sell any latex glove products because of the potential for latex allergy. We recommend opting for latex-free nitrile gloves to anyone who needs to use disposable gloves regularly.
If you want to know more about the different types of disposable gloves and which type is best for you, take a look at our article Latex vs Nitrile vs Vinyl Gloves: The Differences and When to Use Them.
| Product | Contents |
|---|---|
| Purple Nitrile Gloves |
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| Black Nitrile Gloves |
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| Blue Nitrile Gloves |
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EN Standards for Nitrile Gloves
The EN standard for nitrile gloves is an essential Europe-wide recognised metric that helps to define qualities that gloves must meet to be used in certain applications. See the table below for a breakdown of disposable glove EN standards.
| EN Standard | Standard Name | Steroplast Product |
|---|---|---|
| EN420 nitrile gloves | General Requirements for Safety Gloves | |
| EN388 nitrile gloves | Mechanical Hazard Safety Gloves | Black Nitrile Gloves |
| EN407 nitrile gloves | Flame, Heat and Fireproof Gloves | |
| EN511 nitrile gloves | Thermal and Cold Weather Safety Gloves | |
| EN374 nitrile gloves | Protection from Chemicals and Microorganisms | |
| EN455 nitrile gloves | Gloves for Healthcare Professionals | |
| EN1184 nitrile gloves | Materials and Articles in Contact with Foodstuffs | Blue Nitrile Gloves |
Nitrile Glove Thickness
The thickness of your nitrile gloves will affect your dexterity and control when performing certain tasks, so it needs to be taken into consideration when choosing your gloves. For example, tattooists and surgeons will need high precision when wearing nitrile gloves.
But in other applications, particularly when exposed to chemicals and heat, thicker gloves are important to afford more chemical protection.
Nitrile glove thickness, or gauge, is measured in mils (1/1,000th of an inch). 2 mil gloves may be beneficial for low-risk activities where you need to have greater control. They are also likely to be cheaper. When dealing with harsh chemicals, a greater thickness is needed as this extends the breakthrough time (the time it takes for some chemicals to compromise the nitrile glove material and expose the skin underneath). 8 mil nitrile gloves or 10 mil nitrile gloves would be ideal for mechanics, engineers, and chemists.
See the thickness of each of our nitrile gloves.
| Product | Thickness |
|---|---|
| Black Nitrile Glove | 5 mil |
| Blue Nitrile Glove | 3.2 mil |
| Purple Nitrile Glove | 4.7 mil |
How to Dispose of Nitrile Gloves
Do nitrile gloves biodegrade? Nitrile gloves are made from synthetic rubber, meaning they won’t biodegrade and must be disposed of responsibly. Here’s how to dispose of nitrile gloves correctly.
Click to expand:
Nitrile Gloves: FAQs on Safe Use
Here, we answer some of the other common questions about the safe use of nitrile gloves.
Do nitrile gloves cause cancer?
Accelerators used in some nitrile gloves are thought to be carcinogenic. Mercaptobenzothiazole is one such accelerator. Choose an accelerator-free nitrile glove to give you peace of mind.
Are nitrile gloves flammable?
Nitrile gloves have a high tolerance to heat and flames. Mechanics and engineers frequently use them because they will not melt and shrink in the brief presence of heat or a naked flame. That said, prolonged contact with fire will cause them to burn, so it’s important to treat naked flames carefully.
Are nitrile gloves waterproof?
Nitrile gloves are water-proof, oil-proof, grease-proof, chemical-proof, and heat-proof. As such they are used in numerous industries for some of the highest levels of skin protection.
Are nitrile gloves body safe?
Wondering, ‘are nitrile gloves safe for the body?’ Nitrile gloves are an excellent choice for sensitive skin because they have few potential irritants in their synthetic rubber makeup. Ensure you opt for late-free, accelerator-free gloves for allergy-free wear.
Are nitrile gloves toxic?
Nitrile gloves should be thoroughly tested to EN standards that make them safe for consumer use. Particularly EN1184 determines that gloves are safe to use in food handling. Most good quality nitrile gloves are also hypoallergenic to minimise the chance of a skin reaction.
Are nitrile gloves impermeable?
No nitrile glove is completely impermeable. The thickness of nitrile gloves will mean they can withstand chemicals for longer before becoming damaged, but after prolonged exposure to chemicals, or a particularly forceful stab with a sharp object, any disposable glove will be compromised.
Nitrile gloves do have a lower permeation rate than other disposable gloves like latex and vinyl varieties.
Are nitrile gloves sterile?
Nitrile gloves are available sterile or non-sterile, depending on what they will be used for. Nitrile gloves for surgical operations should be sterile to maintain a sterile field when working internally in the body. These gloves should be prepackaged to protect their sterility.
Fort other applications, non-sterile gloves are sufficient and usually more cost-effective.
Are nitrile gloves heat-resistant?
Nitrile gloves are heat-resistant for short-term exposure, which makes them excellent hand protection. Gloves won’t shrink or melt against high heat; provided there is no prolonged exposure.
Are nitrile gloves safe for internal use?
Provided they are sterile, nitrile gloves are perfectly safe for internal use in surgical procedures and first aid treatment.
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