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NEWS & INFORMATION
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Source To Surgery - January 1993, Vol. 1 Issue
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What is Natural Rubber Latex
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Natural rubber occurs in over 200 species of plants but the most
significant is that which is derived from the Hevea Brasilienis, which
currently accounts for 99% of the world's natural rubber supply.
Latex is harvested from the tree by a process called tapping, which has
been described as a controlled wounding of the tree. The liquid which
collected from the tree is called field latex and is made up of water,
30-40% rubber, and about 3% of non-rubber material. The non-rubber
portion contains proteins, resins and sugars. It is some of these
proteins in natural rubber that are felt to be responsible for causing
allergic reactions.
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