In August 1996, Karen Wetterhahn worked in her laboratory in Dartmouth. This renowned chemist uses glasses, a blouse and latex gloves. Despite these protections, it is accidentally exposed to dimethylmercury, a substance whose danger is not limited to an immediately visible burn.
For several months, nothing allows the researcher to understand the extent of the exposure. Neurological disorders appear in early 1997. Her condition worsened, and she died in June. The delay between the accident and the symptoms complicates the perception of the risk.
Investigations show that latex gloves were not a suitable barrier for this substance. Dartmouth magazine reports tests performed after the diagnosis and questioning of protections previously considered sufficient.
Not all gloves are useless: their material must match the product. Here, a covered hand seemed protected while danger could cross this barrier.
What we know
The story is about equipment that is unsuitable for a particular substance, without an operating procedure.
To go to the source
References accessed October 11, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
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