Nail salon fumes; What chemicals are you exposed to?
Nail salons have come under close scrutiny as advocacy groups work with local governments to prevent nail salon workers from being exposed to chemicals. This is due to concern about the type of chemicals and fumes that nail salon workers are exposed to on a daily basis.
As a customer, you should be concerned about the nasty nail salon fumes you’re exposed to during your ritual three-hour manicure or pedicure at the nail salon.
In this piece, we’ll focus on the fumes that are synonymous with salons and the damage they do to your health. Regular nail salon products contain dangerous chemicals and your health can be affected by the dust, fumes or mist that you are often exposed to when you are in the nail salon.
This is even more damaging to nail salon workers who are around these fumes for about nine hours each day. These harmful vapors and fumes can enter food or smoking items such as e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes, making their way into our bodies.
Some of the dangerous chemicals and fumes you may be exposed to in the nail salon
The products used in nail salons often have strong smells and rightly so as they are usually concentrates of extremely dangerous chemicals. When these chemicals enter our bodies, they could affect our health in adverse ways that are expensive to treat. Some of the chemicals you’re likely to be exposed to when you get to the nail salon include: Butyl acetate from nail polish removers. causes headaches, eye, nose, throat and mouth irritation. Acetone from nail cleaners. irritation to the skin, throat and eyes. It will also cause dizziness and headaches. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) from nail polish. causes irritation to the eyes, nose, skin and throat. Long-term exposure causes much worse effects. Formaldehyde from hardener and nail polish. causes breathing problems, asthma-like reactions, coughing, wheezing and allergic reactions such as skin, eye and throat irritation. This chemical is also known to be a carcinogen. Ethyl methacrylate (EMA) from artificial liquid use for nails. causes loss of concentration, irritated skin, eyes, mouth and nose. Exposure to pregnant mothers may affect the unborn baby.
Safety measures you can take in the industry
Safety standards require manufacturers to list which chemicals are used in the products they sell. Standards have changed in recent times forcing manufacturers to be more responsible for the chemicals they push into the cosmetics market. The classification of chemicals has changed and requires manufacturers to use the Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
You can also do something to be better protected
First, you should know which products you use and what they contain. There are many safe alternatives to the chemically concentrated options to avoid. It is also recommended to go to a nail salon that is well ventilated. Proper airflow alone can reduce the nail salon fumes you are heavily exposed to. Much research is being done to test salon products for growing health concerns among salon workers. As a customer, you should also take care of your health in any way you can.
Another concern we have is about using nail polish remover. Read this article on this topic.
