nitrile and latex gloves traditionally worn by laboratory scientists of all stripes, can shed particles called “stearates” that mimic microplastics. These hydrocarbons, added by the glove manufacturers to prevent the gloves from sticking to the molds, can fool spectroscopy machines and are nearly impossible to distinguish from polyethylene under electron microscopes.

[–] its_prolly_fine@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Oh interesting! That's actually kinda cool. Thanks for posting that, I didn't have time to read it originally.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Lab gloves are nitrile plastic, they haven't been latex in decades.

[–] ThoGot@feddit.org 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

There are still latex gloves around, they're just not that common

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 11 hours ago

Can't use latex in any hospital and most labs avoid them because of allergy and higher costs.

[–] its_prolly_fine@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Huh, last I wore goves was like 8 years ago, and my coworker had to have her own latex free gloves.