Tables - Glove Contamination Table (p7-2)

Un-gloved hands will contaminate a valuable product with various organic oils, NaCl, water and other chemicals, which a worker has touched accidentally or is wearing as a cosmetic. To avoid such contamination a worker is usually required to wear gloves. We have tested for contamination from a variety of gloves by wearing each glove and touching a piece of aluminum foil. We analyzed the surface of the foil as received and after touching. (We have not analyzed the surfaces of the gloves.)

The data in the table tells us that various gloves may cause contamination. The main contaminants appear to be organic oils, silicone oil and various inorganic salts. These contaminants are probably caused by the process of manufacturing the gloves and the actual chemical content of the gloves. A variety of organic chemicals are used as slip agents (e.g. erucamide) or plasticizers (e.g. organic acids). Silicone oil is used as a mold release agent. Various inorganic salts are used to avoid caking of the polymeric powders which are used to make gloves. Inorganic salts are also used to keep the hand dry while inside the glove. From these data we can see the gloves are a potential source of contamination. The level of contamination, which may change from one box to another, depends on the manufacturer and their manufacturing techniques, which may change from month to month or perhaps week to week.

Sample Description		Elemental Composition of Glove Contaminated Surface
		Al	C	O	Si	N	Na	Cl	S	Ca	F	Zn
Control:	Un-Touched Aluminum Foil #1	29.	29.	41.	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Control:	Un-Touched Aluminum Foil #2	30.	21.	48.	----	0.3	----	----	----	----	----	----

Human Fingerprint on Aluminum Foil		6.6	76.	16.	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.1	----	----	----	----

Glove#1	(plastic coated white nylon, opaque)	23.	33.	40.	3.8	----	----	0.6	----	----	----	----
Glove#2	(off-white latex, translucent)	22.	40.	34.	2.1	----	0.4	----	----	----	0.3	----
Glove#3	(yellow latex, opaque)	2.2	50.	23.	24.	----	----	0.3	----	----	----	----
Glove#4	(pink, textured PE, translucent)	20.	53.	26.	----	0.6	----	----	----	----	----	----
Glove#5	(pink latex, translucent)	19.	42.	33.	5.8	----	0.3	----	----	----	----	----
Glove#6	(yellow latex, opaque)	23.	42.	33.	----	0.6	0.5	----	1.1	----	----	----
Glove#7	(off-white vinyl, opaque)	27.	41.	32.	----	----	0.5	----	----	0.1	----	----
Glove#8	(striped white nylon, opaque)**	29.	22.	47.	1.4	0.1	0.3	----	----	----	----	----
Glove#9	(black conductive rubber, opaque)	14.	53.	32.	0.9	0.3	----	----	----	----	----	----
Glove#10	(white latex, translucent)	7.4	54.	26.	10.	----	0.2	0.8	1.1	----	----	----
Glove#11	(yellow latex, opaque)	21.	36.	39.	2.9	0.4	----	----	----	0.1	----	0.3
Glove#12	(clear plastic, translucent)	17	53.	29.	----	1.0	0.2	----	----	----	----	----
Glove#13	(white plastic, translucent)	27.	25.	47.	0.4	0.5	----	0.1	----	----	----	----

**Used in a Class 10 Clean Room

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