Latex Versus Nitrile Gloves: Which One Is Right for Your Needs?

By: Shana McGuinn, Contributor

Nitrile gloves are chemical resistant and allergen free. © Allen Chen – stock.adobe.com

You are in the process of selecting hand protection for your employees. You’ve narrowed it down to either nitrile or latex gloves, but you’re a bit confused about the differences between the two. Which one would be better for the applications and tasks in your workplace? Is one more comfortable than the other, so that workers will be motivated to keep wearing hand protection that’s necessary for their safety? And what about cost?

Latex gloves were the leader in the disposable glove space for decades, but nitrile gloves are becoming increasingly popular, thanks, in part, to a huge surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Which one is best for your needs? Here is a short comparison between the two:

Material

• Latex is a natural material found beneath the bark of a rubber tree. Composed of sugars, oils, proteins, starches, resins, tannins and other elements, this substance is blended, coagulated and dried to produce latex, which is used in gloves, rubber bands, balloons, swim caps, tennis shoes, mattresses and a variety of other goods.
• Nitrile is a synthetic rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). Nitrile gloves also usually contain additional materials such as stabilizers, sulfur, antifoaming agents and accelerators.

Comfort

• Latex gloves are generally considered more comfortable than nitrile gloves. They are slender and close-fitting, which offers the wearer a greater degree of dexterity and tactile sensations. Additionally, they are powdered to make them easier to put on and take off.
• However, nitrile glove fans say they are flexible and almost as soft as latex, thanks to their elasticity and the ability to adapt to the shape of the wearer’s hand.

Tolerance

• People who suffer from latex allergies and who come into contact with latex can experience symptoms ranging from mild (itching, redness, hives, a rash) to severe (difficulty breathing, nausea, a loss of consciousness).
• Because they are allergen free, nitrile gloves are ideal for those with latex allergies or sensitive skin.

Latex gloves are comfortable and biodegradable. © Antonioguillem – stock.adobe.com

Chemical resistance

Nitrile and latex both provide protective barriers, but the chemicals they are effective against differ. For this reason, it is important that a hazard assessment be conducted and potential chemical exposure in specific work areas be identified. Note: chemical exposure should be short-term with any type of disposable glove.

• Nitrile gloves are resistant to ammonium hydroxide, benzylic alcohol, fuel oil, fertilizers, hydrogen peroxide, turpentine, acids and caustics of a certain strength, petroleum products, greases, viruses, pathogens and some organic solvents. They are not particularly resistant to strong acids, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones and sodium hydroxide.
• Latex gloves are resistant to acetic acid, ammonium hydroxide, citric acid, fertilizers and sodium hydroxide, but not to asphalt, diesel fuel, biological hazmat, fuel oil and turpentine.

Puncture resistance

• Nitrile gloves are the clear winner in this category. Nitrile’s thickness and durability enhance its ability to withstand punctures. It is also easier to see punctures in nitrile gloves when they do occur, which enables the wearer to remove the gloves and avoid hazardous exposures that can occur through the punctures.
• Latex gloves are not as strong as nitrile gloves, and small holes are not easily seen in latex.

Cost

• Nitrile gloves tend to be slightly higher in cost than their latex counterparts.
• The cost of latex gloves can fluctuate, due to changes in the price of natural rubber.

Usage

• Latex gloves can be found in health care, dentistry, janitorial, beauty salons, pharmaceutical manufacture and in other settings where dexterity, tactile sensitivity and skin protection is required. Both their allergens and the powder used to make donning and doffing them easier could affect customers, so latex gloves are not recommended for restaurants or anywhere food preparation takes place.
• Nitrile gloves are found in many labs and industrial and manufacturing facilities. They are a good choice for workers who must handle sharp cutting tools or who work with hazardous materials. They are also used in many of the same applications as latex gloves, along with food processing – because they are powder and allergen free.

Sustainability

• Because they are derived from natural materials, latex gloves are biodegradable (they will break down into their simplest elements and compounds). Latex gloves can be disposed of in compost bins. They will biodegrade faster if they are shredded or cut into small pieces.
• Nitrile gloves’ synthetic materials mean that they are not biodegradable. If not properly disposed of, they can release harmful chemicals into the environment. Nitrile gloves can be recycled, but only if they have not had contact with biohazardous chemicals or materials. WMHS

Shana McGuinn is a freelance writer specializing in topics surrounding PPE, workplace safety and chemical safety.