We have tested for contamination from a variety of gloves by wearing each glove and touching a piece of aluminum foil. We analyzed the surface of the foil as received and after touching. The data in the table tells us that various gloves may cause contamination. The main contaminants appear to be organic oils, silicone oil and various inorganic salts. These contaminants are probably caused by the process of manufacturing the gloves and the actual chemical content of the gloves.
Silicone oil is used as a mold release agent.
Various inorganic salts are used to avoid caking of the polymeric powders which are used to make gloves. Inorganic salts are also used to keep the hand dry while inside the glove. From these data we can see the gloves are a potential source of contamination. The level of contamination, which may change from one box to another, depends on the manufacturer and their manufacturing techniques, which may change from month to month or perhaps week to week. Human Fingerprint on Aluminum Foil 6.6 76.