Credit score: Journal of Environmental Publicity Evaluation (2024). DOI: 10.20517/jeea.2024.13
Hairstylists, particularly these offering providers to Black and Latina ladies, are uncovered to excessive concentrations of dangerous airborne chemical substances of their office, a group of Johns Hopkins researchers has discovered.
The research, printed within the Journal of Environmental Publicity Evaluation, is the primary to report indoor air concentrations of a number of unstable natural compounds or VOCs in U.S. hair salons serving this group of ladies. This builds on earlier Johns Hopkins analysis that discovered Black and Hispanic hairdressers had larger ranges of chemical substances from hair relaxers, dyes, and different salon merchandise of their our bodies in comparison with workplace employees however didn’t particularly measure air concentrations of the chemical substances.
The researchers performed air monitoring to measure 14 VOCs in three salons serving Black ladies, three Dominican salons predominantly serving Latina and Black ladies, and 10 workplace areas not related to salons to function a comparability group. A lot of the areas examined had some degree of the VOCs the researchers have been searching for. Nonetheless, median VOC concentrations have been two to 175 instances larger in salons than in places of work.
“At the root of the problem are the products used on clients’ hair,” says Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá, research senior writer and affiliate professor within the Division of Environmental Well being and Engineering. “Manufacturers of hair care products need to focus on developing safer options that don’t put hairstylists or consumers in harm’s way.”
Feminine hairstylists are weak as a result of they are typically of reproductive age and work throughout vital durations earlier than and through being pregnant. Many additionally have a tendency to make use of merchandise like chemical relaxers, straighteners, and smoothing merchandise, which can pose explicit well being dangers.
A number of of the VOCs in these merchandise have been linked in animal research to neurodevelopmental and reproductive results, probably posing well being dangers for these ladies and their unborn youngsters. The compounds have additionally been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular results, pores and skin irritation, and most cancers.
In line with Quirós-Alcalá, Black and Latina hairstylists make up about 30% of this predominantly feminine, low-wage workforce. Many ladies on this occupation face a number of challenges, together with publicity to each chemical and non-chemical stressors, comparable to restricted entry to well being care and medical insurance, which may exacerbate their potential well being dangers. This mixture of things can contribute to environmental well being disparities amongst this demographic.
“While limiting product use could help, it may not always be practical due to client demands and a lack of safer alternatives,” says Quirós-Alcalá. “To reduce VOC exposures in hair salons, it is also critical to prioritize adequate ventilation.”
Opening doorways and home windows when obtainable throughout chemical-intensive providers can enhance the indoor air high quality in salons. Producers advocate that salons use followers and air purifiers, masks, and gloves when offering chemical-intensive providers to cut back publicity.
“These simple measures have the potential to significantly decrease exposures to VOCs and other chemicals in salon environments,” she mentioned.
Extra info:
Lucy Ok. Kavi et al, Airborne concentrations of unstable natural compounds (VOCs) in hair salons primarily serving ladies of shade, Journal of Environmental Publicity Evaluation (2024). DOI: 10.20517/jeea.2024.13
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Johns Hopkins College
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Hairstylists serving Black and Latina shoppers uncovered to excessive concentrations of airborne toxins (2025, January 17)
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