VOC sources and exposures in nail salons: a pilot study in Michigan, USA

Abstract

Purpose Exposures of nail salon technicians have received attention due to the potentially toxic materials used in nail products, which include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and methyl methacrylate (MMA). This study characterized area and personal concentrations and other indoor air parameters in 17 nail salons in fall and winter seasons in three areas of Michigan. Methods VOC samples were analyzed using thermal desorption, gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy, and the VOC composition of 35 nail products (e.g., polish, top coat, base coat) was measured using headspace sampling. Ventilation rates were derived using CO2 concentrations, occupancy and building information, and VOC sources were apportioned by a novel application of chemical mass balance models. Results We detected ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, MMA, n-heptane and toluene in most salons, and benzene, d-limonene, formaldehyde, and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) in some salons. While MMA was not measured in the consumer and professional products, and the use of pure MMA in salons has been not been permitted since the 1970’s, MMA was found in air at concentrations from 100 to 36,000 μg/m3 in 15 of 17 salons; thus, its use appears to be commonplace in the industry. Personal measurements, representing exposures to workers and clients, were about twice those of the area measurements for many VOCs. Conclusion This study identifies the products responsible for emissions, shows the widespread presence of MMA, and documents low ventilation rates in some salons. It also demonstrates that “informal” short-term sampling approaches can evaluate chemical exposures in nail salons, providing measurements that can be used to protect a potentially susceptible and vulnerable population. Additional controls, including restrictions on the VOC compositions and improved ventilation, can reduce exposures to salon workers and clients.

Biological and environmental exposure monitoring of volatile organic compounds among nail technicians in the Greater Boston area

“…Ethyl acetate, toluene, and acrylates were also identified as ingredients of nail polish and artificial nail products using SDS information. This information suggests that nail products are a source of exposure for nail technicians, similarly to that confirmed by Zhong et al…”

“…Besides environmental and occupational sources, other factors may affect VOC exposure of nail technicians such as ventilation, workload, and use of PPE. We estimated ventilation rates to be 0.2‐3.8 ACH (6.4‐88 cfm per person), comparable to those in seven nail salons in the Los Angeles area (ACH from 0.2 to 5.7) and 17 nail salons in Michigan (ACH from 0.7 to 45.2) that also used CO 2 measurements in their studies. As reported above, we found an association between ventilation and toluene personal air concentration and workload and area air concentration for ethyl acetate; however, more associations were not possible due to low statistical power or chance.…”

“…Most research has involved assessing ventilation and educating nail technicians . These studies have found that nail salons with limited ventilation often have the highest levels of total volatile organic compound (TVOC, the sum of VOCs detected with a real‐time instrument) . Nail salons do not always provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and management and employees have limited knowledge of appropriate health and safety precautions .…”

“…Nail salons do not always provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and management and employees have limited knowledge of appropriate health and safety precautions . Only a few studies have assessed worker exposure to VOCs, most finding strong odors and air levels well below occupational exposure limits (OELs) for individual VOCs or mixture of VOCs . There has been one study measuring nail technicians' urinary VOC biomarkers .…”

Indoor gaseous air pollutants determinants in office buildings—The OFFICAIR project

“…In this context, source identification and control (eg, using low‐emitting materials and products as well as control of some indoor activities such as smoking, use of candles and of air fresheners, etc) have been increasingly recognized as the prioritized strategy for improving IAQ and reducing the combined health risks associated with indoor exposures; other management measures—such as the adjustment of ventilation rates—should be implemented after source control to account for any residual pollution . However, the identification of sources and determinants of IAPs is particularly complex: researches have examined several specific factors (eg, temperature, various chemical compounds, or mold), sources of pollution (eg, environmental tobacco smoke, occupational activities such as manufacturing, combustion of fuels, consumer cleaning products), and control technologies (eg, ventilation systems) in order to define the determinants of major IAPs as well as the effect of indoor environment parameters, of seasonal variations, of environmental conditions on indoor air pollution . This is especially true for modern buildings, for which changes in design and construction (ie, the growing adoption of electronic equipment, “low‐emitting” materials, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems, non‐smoking policies, and open‐plan offices in place of cellular offices) have resulted over time to change the factors related to the presence of IAPs and in general to the IAQ …”