Evaluation of disposable protective garments against epoxy resin permeation and penetration from anti-corrosion coatings.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Laboratory/bench permeation testing without human subjects (CEBM Level 5).
PubMed 38266254 · doi:10.1093/annweh/wxad084
What was done
Five disposable protective materials (latex gloves, nitrile gloves, Tyvek coveralls, polypropylene/polyethylene [PP/PE] coveralls, and a cotton T-shirt) were tested in a permeation cell system against two epoxy-based anti-corrosion coatings (a zinc-rich primer and an intermediate coating). Samples were exposed for 120 minutes following realistic spray application. Permeation and penetration of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and its oligomers were collected on glass fiber filters and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS).
What was found
- Nitrile gloves exhibited zero detectable permeation for either coating. - Latex gloves showed cumulative 2-hour BADGE permeation of 21.7 ng cm⁻² with the primer and 513.8 ng cm⁻² with the intermediate coating. - Cotton T-shirts permitted the highest penetration frequency, reaching maximum cumulative penetration of 128 ng cm⁻² with the primer and 28.0 ng cm⁻² with the intermediate coating. - Tyvek coveralls provided greater protection than PP/PE coveralls (specific numbers not reported in abstract). - All tested materials maintained cumulative permeation below established acceptable threshold limits.
Why it matters
Epoxy resins are major drivers of occupational contact dermatitis in painters and construction workers. This study provides empirical barrier performance metrics to help select effective personal protective equipment.
Limits
This was an in vitro laboratory simulation that did not test human wearers or account for workplace mechanical stress, stretching, friction, sweat, or prolonged shifts beyond 120 minutes. Exact permeation metrics for the Tyvek and PP/PE coveralls were not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Nitrile gloves effectively block BPA permeability, unlike some latex gloves which do not provide the same level of protection.