Allergy to proteins in natural rubber latex became a significant concern by the late 1980s. Fortunately however, the epidemic was not of concern by 1990s. Latex allergy appears to have originated from an increased use of latex gloves at health care facilities, and changes in processes used to manufacture latex products.What is latex?Latex is a milky fluid produced by rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). Using different methods, latex can be processed into a variety of products, such as gloves and ...