The permeability of laboratory gloves to selected nitrosamines

Samples of laboratory gloves of various composition and thicknesses were used as barriers between 0.136 M solutions of nitrosamines (dimethyl-, ethylmethyl-, diethyl-8 n-butylmethyl-, di-n-propyl-, di-iso-propyl- and di-sec-butyl- in dichloromethane, acetone, ethanol and double-distilled, deionized water) and water. The concentration of permeated nitrosamine was measured periodically. Nearly all gloves tested were permeable to the nitrosamine solutions. The results indicate that: (1) gloves should not be assumed to provide full protection, (2) gloves should be discarded immeidately following overt contamination and (3) gloves should not be reused.