The new generation of (NRL) surgical gloves
Surgical gloves and raw materials – time for re-appraisal?
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Different materials like natural rubber latex used in manufacturing of medical and surgical gloves have had unintended consequences – but should NRL be reconsidered?
Materials like natural rubber latex (NRL) have been a lightning rod for their impact on individuals with latex allergies. But knowing what we know now about NRL, is it time for a re-appraisal? What does the future of glove manufacture look like, and can – and should – NRL make a comeback?
Natural rubber latex, the longtime first-choice in medical and surgical glove material, hasn’t always been the most popular material in recent years. In this podcast, Dr Haydn Williams explains why it is time to take another look at NRL.
Listen to the episode:
A swing back to NRL
Synthetics are inevitable, but carefully manufactured NRL gloves have been a boon to healthcare – and still can be. Synths and NRL can coexist.
The sustainability question
NRL is not fossil-fuel based and is renewable but has its own environmental challenges. There is room for blue sky research to move all gloving materials in a greener and more sustainable direction.
Is it time to re-assess natural rubber latex for medical and surgical gloves?
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Resources:
- Palosuo et.al. Latex Medical Gloves: Time for a Reappraisal 2011. https://karger.com/iaa/article-pdf/156/3/234/2962765/000323892.pdf
