Spooked by a threatened lawsuit, the Bellingham, Ma. library board has banned latex from its facility. But the library latex ban invites harrassment from other allergy "victims."

Patrick Callahan, whose 9-year-old son Andrew has severe latex allergy, said he is relieved. He has been fighting for three months to get the facility latex-free.

...Trouble brewed in February after a children's program in the library left balloon sculptures displayed in the building....According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site, latex allergy symptoms can range from itchy skin to trouble breathing and was first recognized in the 1970s. However, there are no OSHA guidelines for latex exposure.

...Callahan said a public library is something to which his son should have access. "When they refused to institute a policy, we recognized it as discrimination right away," he said, citing the Americans with Disabilities Act...

Library Director Charlotte Rabbitt, who received the litigation papers yesterday, said she understands latex is a problem for people with allergies. She does not understand one parent filing a lawsuit against them while officials have been trying to come up with a policy to accommodate him.

I'm with Charlotte Rabbitt. The boy could simply steer clear of balloons in the library, couldn't he? Aided by a standard policy of "latex presence alerts" posted in the library's entrance lobby. But noooo...........

Given the circumstances of the library's latex ban, we can now expect that someone's going to come forward with a certified allergic reaction to the carpet fibers in the Bellingham, Ma. Library. They will also file a suit, perhaps citing the ADA and their "civil rights." And if the library does not rip out all its carpeting and replace it with new carpet made of some specified, non-allergic-reaction-inducing material, the plaintiff will seek a five-figure settlement. The plaintiff may or may not be be related to a local supplier of hypo-allergenic carpeting.

It's a slippery slope, Bellingham, Ma. library board. Hate to pop yer balloon, but there it is.

UPDATE: More on latex allergies, from the Mayo Clinic:

Manufacturers produce two types of products from natural latex sources: Hardened rubber is found in products such as athletic shoes, tires and rubber balls. Hardened rubber doesn't cause allergies in most people. Dipped latex found in some products that are "stretchy," such as rubber gloves, balloons, rubber bands and condoms. Most allergic reactions to latex occur with products made of dipped latex because they're often used directly against the skin. And dipped latex products aren't as extensively processed as products made of hardened rubber.

From Infection Control Today:

Individuals can become sensitized to NRL by constant exposure through the use of various NRL products including: gloves, condoms, balloons, pacifiers, and rubber toys. Exposure to NRL proteins often occurs through cutaneous or percutaneous contact; aerosolized contact (respiratory exposure), mucosal contact (exposure to eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, rectum); intraoperative exposure; and hematogenous exposure through stopcocks, rubber stoppers, and intravenous contact.

Blowing up balloons and snapping latex gloves off are what trigger potentially fatal airborne particulates for some latex allery sufferers.

So, avoid direct contact and constant exposure to latex in libraries; don't blow up balloons in libraries, avoid people with latex gloves in libraries (not many of them, I'd imagine). The library latex ban still looks foolish. Random airborn particulates from the mere presence of balloons is not indicated as a risk. Direct contact and repeated exposure would be the risk factors with respect to balloons, which were what prompted this ban in the first place.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at May 12, 2005 09:22 AM

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