Latex Paint and allergies to latex

[Guest guest]

Antoinette, the answer is no. The latex in paint is synthetic and is only called latex because it appears to be like the natural latex, in its stretching ability. It was a good question, that I had to check out. Every article, I found said the same thing, natural latex and synthetic latex are not the same.

Blessings, Joy

https://decs.nhgl.med.navy.mil/4QTR04/QA/ic1.htm

Latex Paint Safety (10/04)

Question: We are in the process of repainting our dental clinic. Can we use latex paint in our “latex-safe” operatory?

Answer: According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology and the American Latex Allergy Association, most latex paints are not a problem since they do not contain natural latex. The type of latex found in latex paint is synthetic and is not the same type of latex (i.e., natural rubber latex) commonly found in consumer products or medical and dental supplies.

Selected References: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Tips to Remember: Latex Allergy. Available at: http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/latexallergy.stm . Accessed April 2007.

American Dental Association. Oral Health Topics A–Z Latex Allergies (Allergies to Rubber Latex). Available at: www.ada.org/public/topics/latex_allergy.asp. Accessed April 2007.

American Latex Allergy Association. Frequently Asked Questions: Does latex paint contain natural rubber latex (NRL)? Available at: www.latexallergyresources.org/topics/FaqDetail.cfm?FaqID=18. Accessed April 2007.

(Lt Col Harte)