Nitrile, Latex, Neoprene and Vinyl Gloves: A Primary Source of Contamination for Trace Element and Zn Isotopic Analyses in Geological and Biological Samples. Issue 3 (29th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garçon, Marion; Sauzéat, Lucie; Carlson, Richard W.; Shirey, Steven B.; Simon, Mélanie; Balter, Vincent; Boyet, Maud
• Is Part Of: Geostandards and geoanalytical research. Volume 41:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 367
• Page End: 380
• Publication Date: 2017-01-29
• Subjects: gloves -- contamination -- zinc -- isotopic compositions -- trace elements; Analytical geochemistry -- Periodicals; Géochimie analytique -- Périodiques; 551.9
• DOI: 10.1111/ggr.12161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1639-4488

Abstract

Abstract : Exogenic contamination is of primary concern for geochemical and biological clean laboratories working with sample sizes at the nanogram or even subpicogram level. Here, we determined sixty trace elements in fifteen different types of gloves from major suppliers world‐wide to evaluate whether gloves could be potential sources of contamination for routine trace element and isotope measurements. We found that all gloves contain some trace elements that can be easily mobilised in significant amounts. In weak acid at room temperature, the tested gloves released up to 17 mg of Zn, more than 1 μg of Mg, Ti, Mn, Fe, Rb, Sr, Zr, Sn, Hf and Pb and between 100 and 1000 ng of Li, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ga, As, Se, Y, Ag, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Tl and Th. Vinyl gloves released lower quantities of biologically and geologically important elements, with the exception of In and Sn. Isotopic analyses indicate that all gloves share roughly the same Zn isotopic composition (average δ 66 Zn = +0.10 ± 0.32‰ (2 s )). A single contact between glove and labware releases an average of ~ 6 ng of Zn and hence can significantly shift δ 66 Zn above the precision level when the amount of Zn determined is below 500 ng. Key Points: All gloves present a high risk of contamination for many geologically and biologically important trace elements. Vinyl gloves are less enriched in trace elements than nitrile, latex and neoprene gloves. Glove contamination can significantly shift δ 66 Zn of geological and biological samples.