Airborne exposure to chemical substances in hairdresser salons

Abstract

Several studies indicate health problems among hairdressers to be related to their chemical exposure at work. The purpose of this study was to describe the exposure of chemical compounds in the air of Spanish hairdresser salons, and to study differences between salons in central and suburban areas. Ten hairdresser salons were examined for two days, by recording number and type of customers, ventilation and size of salon. Both stationary and personal borne samples for organic compounds were collected, as well as stationary samples of ammonia. TVOC was calculated. Air temperature, relative humidity, CO and CO2 were logged for 48 h in each salon. Fifty-six personal and 28 stationary samples were analysed for organic compounds. Thirty-five different air-borne compounds were found in the working environment of the hairdressers. All levels were well below the limit values in Spain and USA, both for ammonia and organic compounds. TVOC ranged from 48.37 mg/m3 to 237.60 mg/m3, meaning that many salons had levels above suggested comfort values of 25. There were only minor differences in exposure between central and suburban salons. No salons had ventilation systems, and the CO2 was increasing during the day. The exposure was higher for several chemical compounds when hair dying was performed. Hairdressers were exposed to low air levels of a large number of chemical substances mostly related to work related to hair dying. There were no differences between exposure levels in salons in central and suburban areas.

Reproductive disorders in hairdressers and cosmetologists: a meta‐analytical approach

“…In a Canadian study, 112 of 252 products tested were found to contain at least one phthalate at a detectable level 43) . The variations of the concentrations of chemical exposures were described in several studies 37,38,44) . In general, chemical product concentrations vary according to the use of the specific products, the number and type of products that were opened during the measurements, the number of treatments performed, and workplace ventilation 37,44) .…”

“…2−5) . Both dermal absorption and inhalation are relevant exposure routes for hairdressers and cosmetologists 6,7) . It is also noteworthy that these occupations involve physical exertion, long periods of standing and walking in the workplace, awkward postures, and psychosocial factors that can potentially interfere with reproduction 8−10) .…”

The Effects of Interventional Health Education on the Conditions of Hairdressing Salons and Hairdressers Behaviors

“…Hairdressing is also known as a high-risk occupation because of problems such noise, higher temperature, electrical appliances and contact with cosmetic products like shampoo, creams, dyes and conditioners that contain many chemicals. These chemical substances with allergen and irritant effects cause health problems such as respiratory, skin and ocular diseases in hairdressers (7)(8)(9).…”

Risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias among boys of maternal hairdressers – a Danish population-based cohort study

“…These hair products contain a variety of chemical agents that hairdressers may be exposed to on a continuous daily basis (2,3). Even though concentrations of single chemicals generally are considered to be low in hairdresser salons (4), the long-term consequences of exposure to the complex chemical mixture are unknown.…”

“…These compounds include hexane, benzene, toluene and metoxypropanol and endocrine-disruptive chemicals (EDC) (eg, alkylphenolic compounds and phthalates) (4)(5)(6). EDC exposures have shown associations with the genital diseases cryptorchidism (incomplete testicular descent) and hypospadias (displacement of the urethral opening along the ventral shaft of the penis) (7,8).…”