PRINTER'S NO. 2161
No. 211 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, SEPTEMBER 27, 2000
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 27, 2000
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2000, as "Latex
2 Allergy Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, In 1997, after receiving over 1,700 reports of latex
4 allergy reactions, including 16 deaths associated with barium
5 enema which has since been recalled, the United States Food and
6 Drug Administration ordered that any medical device containing
7 latex carry a cautionary label about potential allergic
8 reactions; and
9 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Occupational Safety and
10 Health issued an alert in June 1997 requesting assistance in
11 preventing allergic reactions to natural rubber latex among
12 workers who use gloves and other products containing natural
13 rubber latex; and
14 WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration issued final rules
15 that went into effect September 30, 1998, requiring labeling
16 statements concerning the presence of natural rubber latex in
17 medical devices, including device packaging containing natural
1 rubber that contacts humans; and
2 WHEREAS, As of March 1999 the total number of latex allergy
3 reactions associated with latex-containing medical gloves
4 reported to the Food and Drug Administration was 2,330,
5 including five deaths; and
6 WHEREAS, Latex gloves have been used as a tool in the health
7 care industry by health care workers to prevent the transmission
8 of many infectious diseases; and
9 WHEREAS, Latex is used in emergency equipment, personal
10 protective equipment, office supplies and hospital and household
11 supplies; and
12 WHEREAS, Latex is also used in other industries, such as
13 child care, food service and food processing; and
14 WHEREAS, With its growing use, there is more awareness that
15 latex and latex-containing products may trigger an allergic
16 reaction; and
17 WHEREAS, Latex allergy is due to numerous allergenic proteins
18 derived from natural rubber latex; and
19 WHEREAS, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
20 published a technical information bulletin in April 1999,
21 alerting field personnel to the potential allergic reactions in
22 some individuals using natural rubber latex products. Such
23 reactions to latex may include skin rashes, hives, itching,
24 swollen red skin, swollen lips and tongue, shortness of breath,
25 dizziness, fainting, eye or sinus symptoms, asthma and, on rare
26 occasions, shock; and
27 WHEREAS, Recent reports in scientific literature indicate
28 that from about 1% to 6% of the general population and about 8%
29 to 12% of regularly exposed health care workers are sensitized
30 to natural rubber latex; and
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1 WHEREAS, The number of health care workers and others
2 affected will continue to increase because frequent exposure to
3 latex causes the development of the allergy; and
4 WHEREAS, Children with spina bifida and others who have
5 conditions involving multiple surgical procedures are at a
6 greater risk to an allergic reaction to latex due to the need
7 for multiple surgeries; and
8 WHEREAS, The American College of Allergy, Asthma and
9 Immunology estimates that 18 million Americans, 64 out of every
10 1,000, are allergic to latex, including 40% to 65% of children
11 with spina bifida; and
12 WHEREAS, Various support groups across the country have come
13 together to increase public awareness of latex allergies and
14 encourage the endorsement of such efforts across the nation; and
15 WHEREAS, The need to protect the residents, including health
16 care workers, of Pennsylvania against latex allergies is a
17 public health issue, and awareness of the public health threat
18 through education is the key to prevention of latex allergic
19 reactions; therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of October 1
21 through 7, 2000, as "Latex Allergy Awareness Week" in an effort
22 to urge all Pennsylvanians to become educated about latex
23 allergies.
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