| Title: | Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds and health risks in Colorado nail salons |
| Author(s): | Lamplugh A; Harries M; Xiang F; Trinh J; Hecobian A; Montoya LD; |
| Address: | "Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1111 Engineering Drive, UCB 427, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309-0427, USA. Electronic address: aaron.lamplugh@colorado.edu. Department of Chemistry, 1125 18th Street, UCB 215, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309-0215, USA. Electronic address: megan.harries@colorado.edu. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, 1111 Engineering Drive, UCB 428, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309-0428, USA. Electronic address: guxi0426@colorado.edu. Department of Biochemistry, 3415 Colorado Avenue, UCB 596, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80305-0596, USA. Electronic address: Janice.trinh@colorado.edu. Department of Atmospheric Science, 200 West Lake Street, 1371 Campus Delivery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1371, USA. Electronic address: arsineh.hecobian_najjari@colostate.edu. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, 1111 Engineering Drive, UCB 428, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309-0428, USA. Electronic address: lupita.montoya@colorado.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.086 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-6424 (Electronic) 0269-7491 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Nail salon technicians face chronic exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can lead to adverse health outcomes including cancer. In this study, indoor levels of formaldehyde, as well as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, were measured in 6 Colorado nail salons. Personal exposure VOC measurements and health questionnaires (n?ª+=?ª+20) were also performed; questionnaires included employee demographics, health symptoms experienced, and protective equipment used. Cancer slope factors from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and anthropometric data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were then used to estimate cancer risk for workers, assuming 20-yr exposures to concentrations of benzene and formaldehyde reported here. Results show that 70% of surveyed workers experienced at least one health issue related to their employment, with many reporting multiple related symptoms. Indoor concentrations of formaldehyde ranged from 5.32 to 20.6?ª+mug?ª+m(-3), across all 6 salons. Indoor concentrations of toluene ranged from 26.7 to 816?ª+mug?ª+m(-3), followed by benzene (3.13-51.8?ª+mug?ª+m(-3)), xylenes (5.16-34.6?ª+mug?ª+m(-3)), and ethylbenzene (1.65-9.52?ª+mug?ª+m(-3)). Formaldehyde levels measured in one salon exceeded the Recommended Exposure Limit from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Cancer risk estimates from formaldehyde exposure exceeded the US EPA de minimis risk level (1?ª+x?ª+10(-6)) for squamous cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and leukemia; leukemia risk exceeded 1?ª+x?ª+10(-4) in one salon. The average leukemia risk from benzene exposure also exceeded the US EPA de minimis risk level for all demographic categories modeled. In general, concentrations of aromatic compounds measured here were comparable to those measured in studies of oil refinery and auto garage workers. Cancer risk models determined that 20-yr exposure to formaldehyde and benzene concentrations measured in this study will significantly increase worker's risk of developing cancer in their lifetime" |
| Keywords: | Adult Air Pollutants/*analysis *Beauty Culture Benzene/analysis Benzene Derivatives/analysis Colorado Environmental Monitoring/*methods Formaldehyde/adverse effects/analysis Humans Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/chemically induced Occupational Exposure/*analysi; |
| Notes: | "MedlineLamplugh, Aaron Harries, Megan Xiang, Feng Trinh, Janice Hecobian, Arsineh Montoya, Lupita D eng T42 OH009229/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/ England 2019/04/02 Environ Pollut. 2019 Jun; 249:518-526. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.086. Epub 2019 Mar 23" |
