STUDY: Workers at nail salons may be at higher risk of harmful exposure to toxins

"Protecting nail salon employees from airborne chemical exposure should be among the top priorities of salon owners. Our salon air cleaners are designed specifically for removing the complex mix of chemicals found in salons and offers an effective and affordable air quality solution."



A new study from the American Journal of Public Health reports that workers at nail salons may be at higher risk of exposure to chemical toxins that may be harmful to their health.



Researchers set out to measure personal and area concentrations of solvents among Vietnamese women working in various California nail salons through a community-based participatory research study.



Researchers collected data from 80 Vietnamese female nail salon workers from 20 different nail salons. They measured work-shift concentrations of toluene, ethyl acetate and isopropyl acetate and found that measured levels of these solvents were higher than recommended guidelines to prevent frequently reported health symptoms frequently reported. One-third of workers reported that they experienced certain health symptoms such as irritations, headaches, nausea and breathing problems after entering the workforce. Irritations of the nose, throat, lungs, skin and eyes were the most common symptoms, reported by 26.5 percent of workers.



“Our findings underscored the need for more attention to preventive public health strategies for his workforce. Recommendations to promote worker health and safety include policy changes to update occupational exposure limits that take into account various chronic health conditions, better regulatory oversight of chemicals in cosmetic products, and more research focused on the health of understudied and vulnerable worker populations,” said the study’s authors.



"Protecting nail salon employees from airborne chemical exposure should be among the top priorities of salon owners," adds Gershon Katz, an air quality expert with AllerAir. "Our salon air cleaners are designed specifically for removing the complex mix of chemicals found in salons and offers owners an effective and affordable air quality solution."



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Source: Press Release/American Journal of Public Health