Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2-2019

DOI

10.2486/indhealth.2019-0146

Publication Title

Industrial Health

Volume

58

Issue

3

Pages

276-281

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the permeation of the glycol ethers, 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE) and 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE) through disposable, nitrile exam gloves using a modified ASTM closed-loop module. The purple unsupported, unlined, powderless nitrile glove from Kimberly-Clark was challenged by the two pure glycol ethers. Their permeation parameters were measured with the aid of a 2.54 cm ASTM F739 closed-loop permeation cell using water collection at 35.0±0.5 0C in a moving tray water bath, and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantification. Each set of experiments consisted of four standard permeation cells with water as the collection solvent. The steady state permeation rate for 2-EE of 4.83±0.45 µg/cm2/min was about 4 times that of 2-BE (1.27±0.11 µg/cm2/min). Permeation of the more nonpolar 2-BE was less than for 2-EE. Both solvents exceeded the ASTM threshold normalized breakthrough time in the closed-loop testing module. Glove samples failed to pass permeation criteria defined by Kimberly Clark and Ansell. Such gloves are not recommended as personal protective equipment for exposure to 2-butoxyethanol or 2-ethoxyethanol, even for very short period exposures. Glove manufacturers should reconsider existing permeation testing method for low volatile compounds and apply the closed-loop module due to higher sensitivity and accuracy.

Comments

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

© 2020 National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Original Publication Citation

Banaee, S., & Que Hee, S. S. (2019). Permeation of ethoxy- and butoxy- ethanols through a disposable nitrile glove. Industrial Health 58(3): 276-281. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2019-0146

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