The indoor environment in four beauty
salons located in Athens was examined in order to investigate the occupational
health exposure of cosmetologists to various chemical products typically used
in their work. Chemical substances chosen for investigation were volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, ozone and carbon dioxide. Total VOCs
levels measured showed significant variation depending on the products used and
the number of treatments carried out, as well as ventilation. The main VOCs
found in the salons were aromatics, esters and ketones which are used as
solvents in various beauty products…Ozone concentrations measured in all salons
were quite low and formaldehyde concentrations detected were lower than the
detection limit of the method in all salons. Carbon dioxide levels ranged
between 402 and 1,268 ppm, depending on the number of people present in the
salons during measurements and ventilation. Cosmetologists may be exposed to
high concentrations of a mixture of volatile organic compounds although these
levels could be decreased significantly by following certain practices such as
good ventilation of the areas, closing the packages of the beauty products when
not in use and finally selecting safer beauty products without strong odor.
Cosmetologists and beauticians and to some
extent customers are exposed to high concentrations of several compounds that
are included in the various chemical products used in their work/treatments. A
wide diversity of chemical products are used in the different therapies
performed in the beauty salons (facial cleansing, skin, nails and body
hydrotherapy and care, anti-wrinkle, pigmentation and acne treatment, make up, body
and face massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, face and body hair removal, etc.).
Each of these products has a large number of components including several
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), methacrylates, phthalates, and formaldehyde.
In addition, the use of various equipments can contribute to the increase of
other chemical parameters such as ozone during the use of steam equipment
(“ozonizer”), carbon monoxide during laser hair removal, etc. The variations of
chemical exposures have been described in a few studies mainly focused on hairdressing
and nail salons.
Occupational skin and respiratory
disorders, and disputable reproductive and genotoxic effects have been linked
to chemical exposures of beauty workers. Although industrial hygiene
evaluations have found that airborne exposures are very low compared with
occupational exposure standards and those found in industry, the levels of VOCs
found in the indoor air can influence human comfort and cause sensory effects…Concerning
ozone, the main health concern is its effect on the respiratory system...Formaldehyde
has been classified as a potential carcinogen and can also cause sensory and
respiratory irritation...Carbon dioxide does not cause severe health effects
but stands as a significant index of indoor air quality since it is influenced
by the number of persons in a room and the rate of air changes.
Tsigonia, A., & Lagoudi, A. (2010). Indoor Air in Beauty Salons and
Occupational Health Exposure of Cosmetologists to Chemical Substances. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7(1). 10.3390/ijerph7010314.
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/7/1/314/htm
