The Issue of Sudsing

Customers can trust that SW gloves are of the highest quality. This is because SW prioritizes the consumer experience. Our products and the technologies developed by our research and development team are based on quality of life improvements for our consumers in their workplace environments, showing that SW prioritizes the comfort and protection of our consumers. Lately our customers have been dealing with the issue of sudsing when using other production houses’ gloves.

Sudsing is the presence of bubbles when gloves come into contact with water. Many of our customers are concerned since they are working in controlled laboratory environments, and it is imperative that there is no contamination. The presence of sudsing may influence the outcome of their lab work. Sudsing is likely from left over surfactants from the manufacturing process. Gloves are not made 100% from nitrile, latex, or vinyl and include additives. Additives such as surfactants, which include soaps, help in the film formation of gloves. Another reason gloves may produce suds in the presence of water is from powder-free coatings. Powder-free gloves go through a washing process (chlorination) or are coated in a polymer or wax lining. Wax and polymer coatings can leave residual chemicals behind that have not been properly washed.

 

SW gloves are manufactured with minimal use of chemicals. All chemicals used in our manufacturing process are carefully selected for low dermatitis potential. Preventing chemical pollution and minimizing the amount of chemicals in our products is a top priority for our business. SW technology is verified by third party organizations such as the Skin Health Alliance (SHA), the FDA, and various standardization organizations like ASTM and ISO. They verify that our products have low dermatitis potential, are tested for product quality, and affirm that SW is a company that prioritizes hand health.

Another issue of sudsing is that it may contaminate the laboratory samples with PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) if the gloves are not PFAS free. PFAS are particularly harmful because they accumulate overtime in people’s bodies, remaining for years. They do not break down into safer substances either, exposure can continue years after it was initially introduced to a system. Studies on PFAS found that they were linked to decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.

There is also an increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers along with a reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, which includes reduced vaccine response. Other concerns were PFAS interference with the body’s natural hormones leading to increased cholesterol levels and, or risk of obesity. Last week’s ASK GIA blog talked about how SW gloves are tested against the latest EN 17681-1:2022 and EN 17681- 2:2022 standards, which determine whether there is presence of PFAS in the glove material. Our gloves are PFAS free, which is out of the consideration of our customers. Only by investigating current issues within the industry, and those that affect the daily use of gloves by consumers, while providing tangible solutions, can truly high quality products be made. SW continues to use these scientific, fact-finding principles to strive forward in innovating the industry.

SW products are formulated to simplify hand protection and are third body certified to promote hand health. SW works with the world’s leading skin health accreditation entity to promote products that meet the highest scientific standards of skin safety. Information about the advantages of our products are always listed out clearly in our product descriptions online. We look to stand out from the competition in offering environmentally friendly and customer conscious products.