Chemical Hazardous Exposures at Hairdressing Salons
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Chang, Che-Jung
Abstract
Various cosmetic hair products are constantly used in hairdressing salons. Aside from skin absorption, different hazards may be released during hair treatments. Previous studies have indicated that increased risks of cancers, respiratory symptoms, reproductive disorders, and skin symptoms were found among hairdressers. However, the exposure assessments are few. To assess the hairdressing environment in Taiwan, the walk-through survey and air sampling of formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and phthalates were performed in this study. Including charcoal, XAD-2, and OVS-Tenax tubes were used for the air sampling, and the flow rates were 50 mL min-1, 100 mL min-1, and 1000 mL min-1, respectively. Both 5-hour average environmental sampling and customer’s personal sampling during hair treatments were performed. After absorbents were desorbed, the samples were analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Direct-reading device was used to observe changes of formaldehyde concentrations during opening hours. Meanwhile, environmental characteristics and products ingredients were also recorded in this study. Ten hairdressing salons were included for walk-through survey, and 5 salons were involved for field sampling. There were total 89 environmental samples, 12 customer’s personal samples, and 72 short-term formaldehyde samples. During walk-though survey, a total of 387 different ingredients were shown on 129 hair product labels. It was found that the chemicals used in salons were variable and diverse. In addition, the salons were not well ventilated (CO2 levels measured 600-3576 ppm), and the gloves were not properly used by hairdressers. As for the results of air sampling, formaldehyde concentrations was ranged from 0.01 to 1.04 mg m-3, and the maximum level was above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of American Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Additionally, about 16.67 % samples exceeded action level (AL), and 83.33 % levels were higher than the standard of Taiwan Indoor Air Quality Management Act and the recommendation of World Health Organization (WHO). The range of ethanol concentrations was 0.16-10.5 mg m-3; isopropanol concentrations were between 0.01-1.24 mg m-3; acetone concentrations were ranged from 1.86-260 μg m-3; the range of butyl acetate was 0.185-53.3 μg m-3; ethyl acetate concentrations were between 0.10-1310 μg m-3. For phthalate esters, the airborne concentrations of five phthalates were 0.005-17.5 μg m-3. Although the levels of VOCs and phthalate esters were below occupational standards, some levels measured were higher than the concentrations of general indoor environments reported by earlier research. The results of short-term formaldehyde concentrations showed that chemicals might accumulate in hair salons during opening hours. Besides, formaldehyde concentrations in main working areas were significantly higher than other areas. The results indicated that airborne chemical exposure, especially formaldehyde, is the problem worth attention in hairdressing salons. The ingredients in products were possible sources of indoor pollutants. Therefore, monitoring the indoor air quality, giving workers health educations, choosing safer products, and increasing the ventilation rates are all crucial to minimize the exposure in hairdressing environments.
Subjects
Hairdressing salons
Air sampling
Formaldehyde
SDGs
Type
thesis