Meeropol explains that typically, these children have surgery in the first few days of life, so they are exposed very early to huge amounts of latex in ongoing routine diagnostic studies and often in surgery. Their tiny bodies may be handled with latex gloves, and medicine injected into the bloodstream may go through latex tubing. Also, the use of latex hasn't always been as widespread as it is today. Although this naturally occurring tree product was first used more than a century ago, the mid-1980's witnessed an explosion of latex products, due to the spread of such diseases as AIDS and hepatitis. Even latex balloons, which the Shriners loved to twist into animal shapes for the kids, had to go.
Nobody knows it's there until little eyes start to water or little lungs to wheeze.
Part of Meeropol's mission has been to have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration require labeling to indicate that a product contains latex. At the FDA, spokesperson Sharon Snyder said the labeling proposal was entered into the Federal Register in June, and comments are currently being reviewed. If the regulation is finalized, it will go into effect six months later. User Facility Reporting Bulletin selected articles FDA Fall 1997 Allergen Content of Latex Gloves.