Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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Aeolienne
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Anyone else allergic to mercaptobenziothiazole?I was recently diagnosed (via a patch test) as allergic to mercaptobenziothiazole aka MBT, along with cobalt and nickel. The reason for having the patch test was to see whether I was allergic to rubber, because I'd been suspended from giving blood on a suspicion of having a latex allergy. As it is, I now know I'm allergic to a rubber additive, not natural rubber latex itself.
Of all the sources of MBT (see list below), the two that have given me most trouble in the past (as in caused attacks of dermatitis) are rubber bands and rubber washing-up gloves. Most of the time my hands are OK if I wear cotton-lined rubber gloves in a roomy size, but it's not ideal, especially when the gloves are beginning to wear out.
Does anyone know of an effective, environmentally sound, non-allergenic alternative to bog-standard rubber gloves? The dermatologist recommended I use PVC or plastic gloves instead. More recently I saw some "Dermalux" gloves on sale in Lakeland (as in the kitchenware chain) which were billed as "latex-free and treated with Moisyl". Any idea what Moisyl is when it's at home?
Mercaptobenziothiazole aka MBT is a vulcanisation accelerator and anti-ageing agent in the rubber industry.
Sources of MBT:
Shoes, insoles, gloves
Rubber in underwear, swimwear
Bandages and medical devices
Renal dialysis equipment
Tyres and tubes
Antifreeze and anti-corrosive agents
Fungicides and detergents
Tick and flea powders and sprays
Sponges, applicators, eyelash curlers
Rubber sheets, pillows, hot water bottles
Condoms and diaphragms
Balloons, toys, rubber bands
Cutting oils, greases
Photographic film emulsion
Bicycle and golf club handles
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Woodburner
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I forget the exact details of why, (something to do with washing up liquid and a skin condition) but while I was living abroad, I had to wear gloves for washing up and clothes washing. As they weren't available in 'small' I wore thin cotton gloves inside. The combination was actually much more satisfactory than the right size rubber gloves alone would have been. My hands were better insulated from both hot water and colder weather (we washed stuff outside mainly) and they 'breathed' better so didn't get so sweaty.
Unfortunately I have no idea where to get them in this country. I don't even know what they were really for; just that they were made of t-shirt type material. 
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Helen_A
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Your GP can prescribe 100% cotton gloves for you to wear/use inside rubber ones. They are usually prescribed to those with excema who need to treat their hands under wet wrap conditions, so are definately on the BNF.
You can usually also buy them by the 50 or 100 through CPC, Maplin et al.
Avanti are supposedly MBT free, and with a 'recognised' allergy to that you can get them on script of from Family Planning as well.
PUL is usually MBT free, and is better than rubber for things waterproof as also breathable 
Helen_A
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Aeolienne
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| Helen_A wrote: | Your GP can prescribe 100% cotton gloves for you to wear/use inside rubber ones. They are usually prescribed to those with excema who need to treat their hands under wet wrap conditions, so are definately on the BNF.
You can usually also buy them by the 50 or 100 through CPC, Maplin et al. |
I bought a pair at Boots once, when I had a temping job that involved handling lots of jiffy bags tied up with rubber bands. Quite an eye-opener how much grime the gloves picked up from a computer keyboard...
| Helen_A wrote: | | PUL is usually MBT free, and is better than rubber for things waterproof as also breathable |
What does PUL stand for?
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Slim
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lots of labs use nitrile gloves nowadays. Would that work?
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Helen_A
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PUL is polyurethane laminate.
Not usually fine enough to be thin gloves, but increasingly found in the outdoor variety. Usually found in the UK as waterproofs or nappy covers .
Helen_A
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Aeolienne
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| cpg03 wrote: | | lots of labs use nitrile gloves nowadays. Would that work? |
I don't know; where could I buy them?
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Slim
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| Aeolienne wrote: | | cpg03 wrote: | | lots of labs use nitrile gloves nowadays. Would that work? |
I don't know; where could I buy them? |
Well I don't really know what application you're looking to use them for, but if you just need them to be like regular doctor's rubber gloves, try googling nitrile gloves, I'm sure you'll find all sorts of medical and laboratory supply places quite happy to sell to you.
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Aeolienne
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| cpg03 wrote: | | Aeolienne wrote: | | cpg03 wrote: | | lots of labs use nitrile gloves nowadays. Would that work? |
I don't know; where could I buy them? |
Well I don't really know what application you're looking to use them for, but if you just need them to be like regular doctor's rubber gloves, try googling nitrile gloves, I'm sure you'll find all sorts of medical and laboratory supply places quite happy to sell to you. |
I only need them for washing up and other household chores.
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