Latex and synthetic polymers gloves: protective effectiveness against biological risk

BACKGROUND: The quick evolution of knowledge about latex and, especially, its effectiveness as protection against biological risks on one hand, and, on the other hand, as trigger of cutaneous, respiratory and sistemic allergic diseases, required a marked distinction between conditions in which latex is necessary and conditions in which latex could be substituted by syntetic polymers. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to verify protective effectiveness of gloves made of syntetic polymers against biological risks compared with latex gloves which until now have been considered as the best protection. METHODS: Literature review. RESULTS: The most recent studies seem to consider neoprene gloves as the safest protection to replace latex in working activities with high biological risk exposure. CONCLUSION: The literature review marked the lack of studies exclusively focused on glove permeability towards biological agents. It seems therefore necessary to investigate this topic to validate results and to guarantee a suitable protection to workers daily exposed to biological risk.