7 replies to this topic

[MDH]

I am curious if anyone else has experienced disposable thin plastic gloves turning yellow or grey after handling perchlorates.

I have only recently had this happen to me - Last year the exact same brand did not do that.

It is concerning because there it is likely that the gloves are reacting with the perchlorate and potassium perchlorate is getting through.

It may be normal - Can anyone vouch for it? As I said, I have never experienced it before.

-MDH

[pyrotechnist]

Isnt potassium perchlorate not that toxic to handle with or without gloves anyway? as long as you don't eat the stuff and wash your hands thoroughly.

[Daedalus]

I am curious if anyone else has experienced disposable thin plastic gloves turning yellow or grey after handling perchlorates.

I have only recently had this happen to me - Last year the exact same brand did not do that.

It is concerning because there it is likely that the gloves are reacting with the perchlorate and potassium perchlorate is getting through.

It may be normal - Can anyone vouch for it? As I said, I have never experienced it before.

-MDH

I'ts most likely reacting with sweat from your hands rather than perchlorate. I have had exactly the same thing when I have worn them for painting, epoxy layup (yes I know latex isn't particularly epoxy resistant but it is better than nothing), 2 part foam - pretty much anything, so I had assumed it was a reaction with my hands rather than the material I'm handling.

[digger]

Isnt potassium perchlorate not that toxic to handle with or without gloves anyway? as long as you don't eat the stuff and wash your hands thoroughly.

It is toxic in contact with skin, not only that pretty much all oxidisers will eventually cause contact dermatitis.

To quote the MSDS for the stuff:-

Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Very destructive of mucous membranes. May produce fatal aplastic anaemia and other blood disorders. Eye and respiratory irritant. May cause allergic skin reaction.

So I would suggest that gloves are the absolute minimum required for handling. I go far further if there is going to be a dust hazard from it

Edited by digger, 13 October 2009 - 04:42 PM.

[digger]

Back to the topic I have had the same yellowing RXN with various types of gloves. It has been when doing a great many things, so I just put it down to eating too many curries and sweating it out.

[Arthur Brown]

I'd suspect that the gloves issue is more likely sweat related. However it's fair to regard all chems as harmful til proven otherwise.

[a_bab]

For someone working regulary with KP an alergic reaction would be nothing compared to God knows what cancer could be caused after years of handling. A short, occasional exposure usually means nothing and it doesn't give the full image of what a chem can do. It's the worker who makes it that is affected in a visible way.

Better safe then sorry.

[werewolf-one]

For someone working regulary with KP an alergic reaction would be nothing compared to God knows what cancer could be caused after years of handling. A short, occasional exposure usually means nothing and it doesn't give the full image of what a chem can do. It's the worker who makes it that is affected in a visible way.

Better safe then sorry.

As somebody who regularly has to treat immediately life threatening allergic reactions,
whether it manifests as angio-oedema (swelling of the face, tongue and upper airways),
severe bronchospasm (wheeze) or cardio-vascular collapse, allergic reactions can
obviously be extremely dangerous and can kill.

This is not meant to minimise long term detrimental effects of exposure , but please don't underestimate
an allergic response.

Cheers

Edited by werewolf-one, 14 October 2009 - 12:27 AM.