If you've had blood drawn recently, you'll have noticed that the technician donned latex gloves, and TV news programs show postal workers wearing them for protection against anthrax. People are increasingly being exposed to latex—and estimates are that nearly 10% of them may have allergic reactions to this rubber product. Reactions that may vary from skin rashes to death.
Currently, latex comes from a product of the rubber tree, Hevea
latex. Which brings us to the subject of Guayule, a native plant of the Chihuahuan
Desert which produces latex that is a perfectly good substitute and which doesn't
affect those sensitive to Hevea. Guayule is a member of the sunflower family,
and its stems may contain from 1 to 10% latex. Attempts to commercially raise this
native plant for rubber started around 1900, was tried again in 1920, and yet again
during World War II. All failed for one reason or another, but in light of the epidemic
of allergies, current efforts may yet result in fields of Guayule in our Southwestern
desert.
Contributor: Arthur H. Harris, Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso.
Desert Diary is a joint production of the Centennial Museum and KTEP National Public Radio at the University of Texas at El Paso.