Nail Salon Air Pollution Spikes to Chemical Plant Levels

A new study has found that concentrations of chemicals associated with cancer and other health risks in nail salons can spike to levels comparable to industrial chemical manufacturing facilities. The study, published in the journal Risk Analysis, measured total volatile organic compound concentrations over a week at each of five different New York City nail salons.

The study, led by Anthony Ierardi, an occupational and environmental health and safety researcher at CUNY School of Public Health, used a data-logging photoionization detector to record measurements every minute during working hours. The results showed that nail technicians and other salon employees may be exposed to high, intermittent peaks of airborne chemicals throughout the workday.

The health impacts of chemical exposures in nail salons have been underestimated due to traditional air sampling and risk assessment methods, which typically measure exposure risks as an average across the whole day. However, the study found that many of the salons reached peak exposure levels well above the median, which means salon workers may be intermittently exposed to chemicals far beyond the levels that daily averages suggest.

The study's findings are particularly concerning given the large number of people who visit nail salons each year. In the United States, people spend more than $8 billion annually at nail salons, with nail technicians and other salon employees facing potential health risks as a result of their daily exposure to chemicals.

## Why it matters The study's results highlight the need for greater awareness of the potential health risks associated with working in nail salons. With the health impacts of chemical exposures in nail salons having been underestimated, it is essential to re-evaluate the risks faced by nail technicians and other salon employees. The study's findings have significant implications for the nail salon industry, with a need for improved ventilation and safety measures to protect workers from the risks associated with chemical exposure.

The study's lead researcher, Anthony Ierardi, notes that traditional air sampling and risk assessment methods do not tell the whole story for nail salons. The study's results show that nail technicians and other salon employees may be exposed to high, intermittent peaks of airborne chemicals throughout the workday, yet the health impacts of those exposures have been underestimated. As a result, there is a need for further research and action to address the potential health risks associated with working in nail salons.