Abstract
Due to the complexity of the nail salon work environment, traditional approaches to exposure assessment in this context tend to mischaracterize potential hazards as nuisances. For this investigation, a workable “indoor air” approach was devised to characterize potential hazards and ventilation in Boston, Massachusetts area nail salons which are primarily owned and staffed by Vietnamese immigrants. A community-university partnership project recruited salons to participate in a short audit which included carbon dioxide measurements and evaluation of other air quality metrics. Twenty-two salons participated. Seventy-three percent of the salons had spot carbon dioxide measurements in excess of 700 ppm, the level corresponding to a ventilation rate recommended for beauty salons. Fourteen salons (64%) did not have a mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh air and/or exhaust contaminated air. The lack of adequate ventilation is of significant concern because of the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals in salon products and the common self-report of symptoms among nail technicians. Community and worker health may be improved through adoption of recommended ventilation guidelines and reduction in the hazard potential of nail products.
Highlights
Over the past 20 years, nail salons have become a common feature of American towns, malls, and city neighborhoods
The strong chemical odors emanating from nail salons have generated complaints to state and local health departments and have stimulated environmental, health, and community advocates to raise concerns about potentially hazardous chemicals used in nail products [2, 3]
There is more and more demand for exposure assessment in salons to determine if the smells, vapors, and dusts in nail salons are just a “nuisance” or if they are hazardous to the health of workers and patrons
Summary
Over the past 20 years, nail salons have become a common feature of American towns, malls, and city neighborhoods. The strong chemical odors emanating from nail salons have generated complaints to state and local health departments and have stimulated environmental, health, and community advocates to raise concerns about potentially hazardous chemicals used in nail products (see Table 1) [2, 3]. There is more and more demand for exposure assessment in salons to determine if the smells, vapors, and dusts in nail salons are just a “nuisance” or if they are hazardous to the health of workers and patrons. The inherent properties of nail product ingredients support the concern about the health of people working often very long work weeks in salons. The toxicity of many ingredients in nail products is clearly established (see Table 1). The California Air Resources Board found that nail hardener and nail polish both emitted formaldehyde at “relatively high emission rates” compared to other consumer products [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
