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Disposable gloves toxic to amphibians

Jennewt

Jennewt

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There was a paper published recently about the effects of disposable gloves on tadpoles.
http://www.parcplace.org/Cashins_etal_2008_glovesandtads .pdf

Many people/institutions have been using dispo gloves to handle amphibians, believing that it's safer because no germs/oils/lotions are transmitted from human skin to the skin of the amphib. However, it appears that all glove types (latex, nitrile, vinyl) have some level of toxicity, at least to tadpoles. Of the options, well-rinsed vinyl gloves appear to be the only acceptable option.
 
blueberlin

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We just had this discussion in the German board a few weeks ago. It may be worth mentioning, too, that the gloves should not be the kind with powder inside of them.

-Eva
 
Daniel

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This is a very interesting article, thanks for sharing Jen!

Up to now I only knew that latex gloves are dangerous to amphibia and nitril was recommended as a better alternative.
 
Jennewt

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fishkeeper said:
How do gloves compare to well washed hands?
Click to expand...
Compare in what regard? For safety for an individual salamander, I think rinsed vinyl gloves versus well-rinsed hands may be of similar risk (both could have some stuff that is bad, but generally safe). But in situations where it's important not to cross-contaminate animals/enclosures, gloves are obviously better.
 
fishkeeper

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Perhaps instead of gloves people should be using plastic bags over their hands?(is polyethlene as used in fish bags toxic to amphibians?).
 
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Thanks for the post Jen! And that is a good point, I wonder about the plastic bags myself. This may be stupid, but what I'm reading here is that it's equally as dangerous to use gloves, if not more, than just using bare hands? Unless you are trying not to cross contaminate, correct?
 
Jennewt

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pixolite said:
what I'm reading here is that it's equally as dangerous to use gloves, if not more, than just using bare hands? Unless you are trying not to cross contaminate, correct?
Click to expand...
That is my interpretation also, although the paper doesn't address this issue. Hands may be safer, as long as one is careful about what is on the hands. Soaps, lotions, household chemicals, etc, could be worse than rinsed gloves.
 
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i have found with my limited axolotl raising that introducing another chemical ie the residue from disposable gloves either non-powdered or powdered. i agree that the only safe handling of any type of aquatic pet be with you very clean hands.
 
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All plastics, rubbers, foams, resins ect... by their nature leach chemicals or tiny particles to a certain extent, none of which can be good for amphibians. The less you use around them the better. I think if you need to use gloves the best option would be to use food preparation gloves because the FDA sets regulations about the type and amount of toxins that leach out of such products.
 
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