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Rubber Gloves: Peril for some Allergies to latex, which in extreme cases can cause death, are an increasing problem for health care workers, fast-food servers, toll collectors, and police officers. Latex gloves became prevalent in many workplaces, especially in health care settings, in the 1980s when the threat of HIV infection became known. Researcher Dr. Margaret Fay, of the British latex-maker London Intemational, reports that the number of people in the general population with the two types of latex allergies hc~s now increased to 8 percent from l percent in 1980. At the same time, the number of dental workers with the allergies has increased from 7 percent to 40 percent and the number of other health care workers affectecl has risen from 3 percent to 20 percent. Some facilities have switched to latex gloves that are safer for sensitive workers. Powderless gloves or vinyl gloves are options for those with the allergies. (CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse 1/29/97)