Abstract
The allergenic substances [dithiocarbamate compounds (DTC) and latex protein] in several latex products (examination gloves, surgical gloves and rubber dams) were determined, and several skin tests were performed. The DTC-type accelerators detected in 15 latex samples were Zinc-dibutyldithiocarbamate (ZDBC) (8 samples), Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC) (4 samples), and Zinc pentamethylenedithiocarbamate (ZPC) (4 samples) . Zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ZDMC), which is considered the most sensitive chemical of the DTC-type accelerators, was not detected in any sample. The amount of latex protein in the 15 samples varied from 96 μg/g to 4133 μg/g. The rubber dam had the lowest protein level. The surgical gloves had a moderate amount of protein, less than 1000μg/g. The examination gloves had a wide range of protein ; the highest values were 2030 times the lowest values. The positive reaction rate of a patch test with a piece of latex glove on the human subjects was 2.5 % (2/81) . An additional patch test with petrolatum, containing the same kind of DTC compounds as in each positive latex glove, showed no positive reaction. Four subjects (4.9 %) had a positive reaction to a prick test.
