Amazon has fewer and fewer options for nitrile gloves, but prices are rising. But before buying, you should make sure that they are useful.
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In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the shortage of nitrile gloves does not seem to be as terrible as the shortage of masks. After all, no virus can "get into the skin of your hands." For most people, masks are still the best safety measure.
However, these gloves are still a necessity for medical professionals, tattoo artists, food waiters and mechanics. In addition, they have a variety of household uses, including gardening, cleaning, and safety precautions for people with weakened immune systems. Currently, our supply is dwindling-there are currently no domestic manufacturers in the United States.
MedPride powder-free nitrile examination gloves, large, boxed/100
Wostar disposable nitrile gloves 2.5 million packs 100
In addition to professional standards, nitrile gloves are sought after at the consumer level because of their strong puncture resistance, corrosion and chemical protection, and hypoallergenic properties-although some people are allergic, they are far inferior to latex Or other glove allergies-making materials. We have also recommended them for gardening before, and they are very suitable for use with fiberglass and harsh cleaning chemicals.
In other words, not everyone needs gloves-but people who do need gloves are likely to need nitrile gloves. And they will only get harder and harder to find.
"A big problem in the nitrile glove field is that the barriers to entry are very high," said Sean Kelly, chief procurement officer of PPE in the United States. "For surgical masks, also called three-layer masks, for only $150,000, you can get a machine to manufacture them, and then you can start your business.... The manufacture of nitrile gloves is very complicated. In some parts of the world , The raw materials are difficult to obtain."
Coated rubber work gloves, 8 pairs a pack, nitrile rubber
Currently, the only domestic manufacturer of nitrile gloves is the Showa Group, which has a factory in Fayette, Alabama. When it comes to amateur glove manufacturing, that doesn't exist at all.
In other words, the large number of consumer-grade masks we see—from fashion companies to individuals starting their own sideline business on Etsy—will not happen to nitrile gloves. And it has already begun to have an impact.
"Before Covid, you could buy a box of (nitrile gloves) for $3 to $6," Kelly said. "Now go to Amazon and you will see that the average price is $19 to $25, which is ridiculous."
Exacerbating the problem is the lack of domestic manufacturers and the increasing pressure on our foreign suppliers: In July, the United States banned the world’s largest glove manufacturer on the grounds of “reasonable evidence of forced labor in the manufacturing process” Two subsidiaries of the manufacturer.
Another problem is fraud, which is especially vicious in the desperation of the public health crisis. This kind of fraud was a huge problem at the beginning of the pandemic: 3M, a leading N95 mask manufacturer, investigated 4,000 N95 fraud reports in July, and the Bay Area faced consumer-level fraud in April.
Although the biggest problems in purchasing nitrile gloves mainly occur at the enterprise and wholesale levels, these problems will quickly penetrate consumers.
"I talked to a senior buyer in a hospital and they said that they really ran out of large nitrile gloves. The situation of gloves with masks is different because many people need these gloves with or without Covid, but there are With Covid, they need them more than ever."
If you don't have a specific need for gloves, the response here is not to stock up on gloves-this will lead to shortages. However, if you use nitrile gloves for tasks that do not particularly require medical-grade gloves, you may want to consider vinyl or latex alternatives.
Medpride vinyl gloves, 4.3 million thick
COOLJOB Women's Gardening Gloves
Disposable latex gloves, powder-free
If you do need to use nitrile gloves at home or in the workplace, please carefully consider strategies to protect them, otherwise limit their use and build a comfortable reserve for yourself without excessive.
MedPride powder-free nitrile examination gloves, large, boxed/100
Wostar disposable nitrile gloves 2.5 million packs 100
Powder-free disposable gloves medium size-100 packs-mixed nitrile and vinyl
Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means that we may receive paid commissions for editorially selected products purchased through links to our retailer's website.
Joshua Sargent is the editor of Hearst Newspaper. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.
Joshua Sargent is the senior news editor of the Hearst Newspapers Department of Commerce. His works involve music, film and television, public health, and cast iron pots. He can also play the guitar solo in Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne", which is almost completely correct. He lives in Brooklyn, New York with a cat that "belongs" to him by "law".
Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.