Analysis of Phthalates and Alternative Plasticizers in Gloves by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Liquid Chromatography-UV Detection: A Comparative Study

Gloves represent an essential feature for hand protection because it is a requirement in the professional framework to comply with both hand hygiene standards and the principles of good laboratory practice. Despite their wide use, there is a knowledge gap regarding their composition, including phthalates. The purpose of the present study was to develop two orthogonal methods, GC-MS and HPLC-DAD, for the screening of plasticizers in gloves. Performances of these two methods were compared in terms of ease of use, number of analyzed plasticizers, and sample preparation. The two methods were validated and applied for the identification and quantification of plasticizers in ten gloves made with different materials (vinyl, nitrile, latex, and neoprene). Results revealed the presence of three main ones: DEHP, DEHT, and DINP. Additionally, the contents of plasticizers were extremely variable, depending on the glove material. As expected, the results point out a predominant use of plasticizers in vinyl gloves with an amount that should be of concern. While DEHP is classified as a toxic substance for reproduction 1B, it was, however, quantified in the ten different glove samples studied. This study provides new data regarding the plasticizers' content in protective gloves, which could be useful for risk assessment.

Automated summary

This study developed two methods for screening plasticizers in gloves and compared their performance and results. It found that the main plasticizers in gloves were DEHP, DEHT, and DINP, with varying contents across different glove materials, highlighting a predominant use of plasticizers in vinyl gloves.