Posted on 05/14/2005 3:22:56 PM PDT by David Lane
Latex
Natural rubber latex (NRL) has emerged over the last decade as an increasingly common trigger for anaphylaxis-producing allergies. It is found in a wide range of manufactured goods, including an estimated 40,000 common household items. Latex allergies now affect an estimated 1% to 6% of the U.S. population and the reasons for the increase in incidence can be attributed to biohazard precautions and manufacturing changes.1-3
Latex allergy is an allergic sensitivity to the proteins in NRL that often worsens with each exposure, a phenomenon known as allergic sensitization. Allergic reactions to latex can range from moderate skin irritations to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
You may be interested in learning more about latex allergies including information on variations in severity, who is at risk, and prevention and treatment.
Reasons for Increased Incidence
Prior to the 1980s, reactions to latex were virtually unknown in the United States. Now, recent estimates put the incidence of latex sensitivity or allergy among the general U.S. population at between 1% and 6%, or up to 16 million people.1-3
Reasons for the increase in latex allergy incidence include:
Biohazard precautions
It is commonly acknowledged that the sudden, large-scale increase in latex glove use by health care workers since the 1980s lies at the heart of the growing problem of latex allergy. As health care workers sought to protect themselves from AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, latex glove use became virtually universal in hospitals and other medical and dental facilities. Patients, and especially health care workers, were exposed to more latex than ever before and many have become sensitized to it.
Manufacturing changes
To keep up with increased demand, manufacturers sped up their processes and resorted to lower quality latex, both of which have resulted in latex products with higher levels of the protein that can trigger allergic reactions.
Latex allergy is an allergic sensitivity to the proteins in natural rubber latex (NRL) that often worsens with each exposure and at its most severe can result in deadly anaphylaxis. Unlike synthetic latex, which rarely causes allergic reactions, NRL comes from the milky sap of rubber trees. Using various processing techniques, NRL is used alone or in combination with other materials to make thousands of products including:
Dipped latex products are the biggest culprits in triggering allergic reactions, including:
Sensitization occurs when exposure to latex proteins causes the body's immune system to develop antibodies to these proteins. Because the body perceives the latex protein as a threatening foreign substance, it prepares to launch a defense against it in future encounters using the antibodies it has created. Therefore, people may have been sensitized to latex without yet showing external allergic symptoms. They are, however, at risk of becoming increasingly sensitized and eventually symptomatic if exposure to latex continues.
Sensitization refers to an increasingly strong allergic reaction to the same amount of allergen over time.
Antibodies are proteins that help the body to identify specific foreign invaders to the body, such as latex and other allergens.
Because latex can cause local skin irritation, or dermatitis, as well as more severe allergic reactions, it is important to distinguish between these so that symptoms of potentially fatal allergic reactions are recognized and treated, and proper precautions against future reactions are taken.
Dermatitis
Two types of skin irritations, or dermatitis, are common among frequent users of latex products, particularly glove-wearing health care workers:
While annoying, dermatitis reactions are not dangerous per se, nor necessarily directly related to latex. There can, however, be progression from dermatitis to latex allergy. Severe skin irritation can make a person more susceptible to developing an allergic hypersensitivity to latex because the skin no longer protects more sensitive internal tissues of the body, which are more vulnerable to sensitization.
Latex allergy (immediate hypersensitivity)
True latex allergy occurs when the body's immune system becomes sensitized to latex proteins, usually over the course of repeated exposure. As a result of sensitization, the immune system overreacts to latex as a hostile intruder.
Allergic symptoms range from irritating to life threatening, becoming progressively worse with repeated exposure. Allergic symptoms include the following, and may occur singly or in combination:
Full-blown anaphylaxis, which can include any of the above, can cause death through suffocation or a severe drop in blood pressure.
Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow due to an allergic hypersensitivity.
Rhinoconjunctivitis is an allergic condition common in children during the pollen season that is characterized by sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.
Since it's impossible to predict when an allergic reaction might escalate into deadly anaphylaxis, and because it can take only minutes to do so, it's important to take even seemingly mild allergic reactions seriously. Thus, those who have experienced allergic symptoms in response to latex should avoid further contact with it and consult their physicians about carrying self-injectable epinephrine with them for anaphylactic emergencies.
References
Choice 'D' was Toluene.
A good choice. Used instead of Benzene during the vulcanization process of NLR.
" When Maltoni and his colleagues exposed rats to toluene, the occurrence of malignant tumors jumped from a 24.5 percent baseline rate to 68.8 percent. Xylene exposure resulted in a 56.4 percent incidence of malignant tumors."
COPYRIGHT 1985 Science Service, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
"I guess this means sheep gut condoms are going to make a come back."
Did you mean cum back?
LOL!
Ouch.
I always thought it ironic to use sheep intestine as a barrier between you and another human being to prevent disease and human conception.
If I was a conspiracy theorist I would suspect a plot by sheep to eliminate man and rule the world.
" I would suspect a plot by sheep to eliminate man"
Sheep DO rule the world.
Common Name: TOLUENE
CAS Number: 108-88-3
DOT Number: UN 1294
...and the liberal/gay media still dears to tell us condoms are safe.
If condoms are safe so is the H-Bomb.
...and the liberal/gay media still dares to tell us condoms are safe.
If condoms are safe so is the H-Bomb.
(sorry about typo)
The woman's problem!
Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week...
More than 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm counts, poor sperm quality, or both.
The man need not be impotent but the two usually go together to some degree.
What are your recommendations?
Dear Scenic,
Having been involved in latex research I do have a little knowledge of the subject.
All I can really tell you is don't use condoms. THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE.
For birth control the pill is still the best option by far. Not without some problems but far safer than NLR or synthetic rubber condoms.
For std protection, not using condoms will have no effect whatsoever, as their barrier protection is so slight. Three studies have shown they actually increase what is called "AIDS' (immune suppression).
This is not so surprising as many components have immune suppressant qualities such as Benzene, Silicone and N9.
I wish I could offer the perfect solution but this is not a perfect World.
Best wishes,
David
Hm, so you're not against birth control, just against condoms?
Correct. I'm against cancer and birth defects. No other agenda.
Dear Amalie,
Thanks for the post. You are so right about getting the message over using the MSM.
It is so sad that health has become a political issue.
The dangers of latex are well known to the entire medical community (and not in dispute by the FDA or OSHA) and yet the subject is considered politically incorrect by the mass media.
Germs, diseases and toxins, however, don't seen too concerned with being politically correct and so the needless suffering goes on and on.
The most shocking thing is the FDA have stated that under 1% of latex deaths are even reported and yet have done NOTHING to correct this. Condoms contain several FDA listed carcinogens and teratogens and yet no warning is put on the label. This is a breach of California (and other States law).
This is CRIMINAL in the strictest sense of the term.
Being politically correct is the new liberal name for communist style censorship.
I'm not politically correct and never will be.
I just try to be honest.
Warmest regards,
David Lane
Just as a quick follow-up - with latex so commonplace today in all sorts of the health-related products, is there any reasonable alternative to it in terms of health safety/prevention?
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