Jamal, H;
Lyne, A;
Ashley, P;
Duane, B;
(2021)
Non-sterile examination gloves and sterile surgical gloves: which are more sustainable?
Journal of Hospital Infection
, 118
pp. 87-95.
10.1016/j.jhin.2021.10.001.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals should consider environmental sustainability when using personal protective equipment (PPE). One of the most frequently used items of PPE in medical settings are gloves. AIM: This study aims to quantify the environmental impact of sterile versus non-sterile gloves using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. METHODS: This study used three glove types: non-sterile gloves and sterile gloves (latex and latex-free). Sixteen different environmental impact categories were used to demonstrate the impact of each glove type. FINDINGS: Non-sterile gloves had the least environmental impact in all categories. The two types of sterile gloves, non-latex (synthetic rubber) and latex (natural rubber), performed similarly, although the non-latex gloves had a greater impact on ozone depletion, mineral use and ionizing radiation. For climate change impact, sterile latex gloves were 11.6 times higher than non-sterile gloves. This study found that for both sterile type gloves (latex and non-latex), the manufacture of the gloves contributes to the most considerable environmental impact, with an average of 64.37% for sterile latex gloves and 60.48% for non-latex sterile gloves. CONCLUSION: Using the LCA methodology, this study quantitatively demonstrated the environmental impact of sterile versus non-sterile gloves.
Type: | Article |
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Title: | Non-sterile examination gloves and sterile surgical gloves: which are more sustainable? |
Location: | England |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.10.001 |
Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.10.001 |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
Keywords: | Environmental sustainability, Life-cycle assessment, Non-sterile gloves, Sterile surgical gloves, Sustainability in healthcare |
UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute > EDI Craniofacial and Development Sci |
URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10139239 |
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