The tree is native to South America but is widely cultivated throughout the tropics. The trees are tapped for latex by cutting spiral grooves in the bark and inserting a spout with a cup for collection of the latex.
Ammonia is added to promote liquefaction and prevent spoilage.
By placing the latex into a centrifuge, a concentrated product is obtained. The proteins present in natural rubber latex products are thought to be the cause of latex sensitivity and allergic reactions. Immediate hypersensitivity was first reported in 1979, with only sporadic cases until 1990. In the late 1980s, there were 450 incidents of anaphylactic reactions from the latex cuff used on barium enema catheters that resulted in 15 deaths. The allergic response.