Not so new

Shannon M. Hollsten

Director, International Sales Ventilacion Industrial, S. A.

Mexico City, Mexico

To the Editor:

After reading the article on “Genetically engineered rubber newest glove material,” (CleanRooms, Nov. 1996, p. 1) we felt it necessary to bring to your attention one of our newly acquired subsidiary companies, which has been producing Guayule rubber since the mid-1940s. During World War II, Mexico exported Guayule rubber to the United States to manufacture gas masks to be used for military purposes.

It was rather disappointing to read about the USDA Western Regional Research Center`s claim that they have perfected the Parthenium argentatum plant to be used for processing latex products. They may have engineered genetic changes within the plant itself, yet this process has been well-known since before World War II due to its non-allergenic qualities.

Although Yulex, Inc. claims that its genetically engineered plant grows quickly and produces up to 1,000 kg of rubber per hectare, our subsidiary company produces 800 tons of Guayule rubber per month. We have sold this material to companies experimenting in producing automotive tires (over 70 laboratory tires have been manufactured to date with excellent laboratory results).