THE FDA SAYS ONLY 1% OF LATEX DEATHS ARE REPORTED
Delayed contact dermatitis from chemicals in rubber has been recognized since the 1930s.4 But except for rare early reports, clinicians did not appreciate systemic allergic reactions to latex proteins until 1979, when case reports began to appear in Europe. 5
Latex allergy erupted in the United States shortly after the Centers for Disease Control introduced universal precautions in 1987. By late 1992, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 1133 reports of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis occurring to patients and health care staff associated with 30 classes of latex medical devices.
There were 15 patient deaths associated with latex barium enema catheters.5,6
The FDA estimated that the reports represented only 1% of actual occurrences.6
Today, researchers hypothesize that the latex allergy outbreak is the result of multiple factors including deficiencies in manufacturing processes, increased latex exposure, hand care practices, immunological cross reactivity, and changes in latex agricultural practices.1,7,8, 45
Latex allergy affects between 8%-12% of workers in all health disciplines. Latex allergy also affects up to 51% of children with spina bifida, and approximately 1% (to 6% - This article incorrectly quotes the OSHA estimate which read '1% to 6%') of the general population.
http://www.nursingworld.org/readroom/position/workplac/wklatex.htm
Carcinogens present in almost all latex products
Date: 7/1/2003 1
It is not widely known through the regular consumer channels that the vast majority if not all latex products are manufactured in a method that adds nitrosamines to the product. Nitrosamines are widely known to be carinogenic in nature.
The latex industry has known that there are nitrosamines present in their products, but have never warned their customers.
Additionally, there is now available methods to manufacturing latex gloves, condoms etc. that is free of nitrosamines. This process is economical and ready to be implemented.
The latex product industry has never been proactive in their research and development to protect their customers from harm.
Are there any medical studies that have examined whether there is a causal relationship between the increase cases of cervical caner and the increased usage of condoms?
http://www.prairielaw.com