Lead-containing radiation-attenuating sterile gloves in simulated use: Lead transfer to sweat as an unknown risk to users

BACKGROUND: Lead protective gloves are widely used to attenuate scattered radiations during fluoroscopic-guided medical procedures, thereby reducing hand exposure to radiation.

AIMS: To determine whether lead-containing gloves present a risk of metal leaching onto the operator's skin, particularly due to the presence of sweat.

METHODS: Artificial sweat of varying acidity was introduced into two types of commercial gloves containing lead. The level of lead in the sweat was then assessed after different exposure times. Electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology of the glove layers.

RESULTS: Lead was detected in artificial sweat during each contact test on two different types of gloves. The concentration of lead increased with the acidity of the sweat, and the contact time. Gloves with a protective lining transferred less lead into sweat, but it was still present at significant levels. (i.e. few milligrams of lead per glove after one hour contact).

CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopy operators should be aware of the risk of leaching of lead ions when using lead gloves under intensive conditions, although the potential harmfulness of lead ions leached into the glove remains essentially unknown.