Diffusion of nitrosamines through protective gloves

A simple experimental demonstration of the permeability of protective gloves to volatile nitrosamines has been carried out. Rubber and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves were turned inside out and the fingers filled with dilute solutions of nitrosamines in hexane. The outer faces of the fingers were washed with water at various times and the nitrosamine content of these washings determined. From these measurements the proportions of the various nitrosamines passing through the gloves were calculated. For both types of gloves N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) permeated the fingers most rapidly and to the greatest extent. Only a relatively small amount of N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) was transmitted. It was also established that the rubber gloves themselves did not contain any of the common volatile nitrosamines; N-nitrosomethylphenylamine and N-nitrosodiphenylamine were also absent.