The Effect of Latex Gloves and Nylon Cord on Ground Water Sample Quality

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Eighteen sites in South Carolina under investigation by the Superfund program were sampled to determine ambient ground water quality. Samples from 11 of 15 monitoring wells sampled with a bailer contained either caprolactam or Santowhite® (a registered trademark of the Monsanto Co.) or both organic compounds. A maximum of 540 μg/L of caprolactam and 780 μg/L of Santowhite was observed in the samples from the monitoring wells. None of the samples collected using dedicated submersible pumps at 28 other wells contained either compound.Caprolactam is used in the manufacturing of nylon cord, and Santowhite is used as an antioxidant in latex gloves. Therefore, it was suspected that the nylon cord used to raise and lower the bailer and the latex gloves that were worn during sampling may have contributed the caprolactam and Santowhite to the sample.An experiment using pH‐adjusted distilled water and private well water revealed that the nylon cord and the latex gloves may contribute contaminants to ground water samples. Research is needed into the potential for caprolactam and Santowhite to interfere with laboratory analyses in addition to the potential for absorption of contaminants by nylon cord. Until additional information is available, alternative materials or sampling techniques should be considered to minimize the potential impact of nylon cord and latex gloves on the quality of bailed samples.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: