Nail salon workers have health concerns
OAKLAND, Calif. (UPI) -- Researchers who surveyed nail salon workers in California say the workers worry about health effects associated with the chemicals they use. The survey by the Northern California Cancer Center and the Asian Health Services of Oakland, Calif., involved face-to-face interviews of 201 Vietnamese nail salon workers at 74 salons. Thu Quach of the Northern California Cancer Center says nail salon workers are mainly Vietnamese women who make their living giving manicures and pedicures. Of California's more than 35,000 salons, the vast majority are owned or operated by Vietnamese women. "Nail care workers routinely handle products containing many potentially harmful compounds, some of which are carcinogens or have endocrine disrupting effects, yet are virtually unregulated," Quach says in a statement. "Nail salon workers are likely to have higher exposures to these compounds than the customers they serve." A majority of the workers reported health concerns from exposures to workplace chemicals, says Dung Nguyen of Asian Health Services. "Many of them reported having some health problem after they began working in the industry, particularly skin and eye irritation, breathing difficulties and headaches," Nguyen says. The findings of the preliminary survey are set for the October print issue of Journal of Community Health.
OAKLAND, Calif. (UPI) -- Researchers who surveyed nail salon workers in California say the workers worry about health effects associated with the chemicals they use. The survey by the Northern California Cancer Center and the Asian Health Services of Oakland, Calif., involved face-to-face interviews of 201 Vietnamese nail salon workers at 74 salons. Thu Quach of the Northern California Cancer Center says nail salon workers are mainly Vietnamese women who make their living giving manicures and pedicures. Of California's more than 35,000 salons, the vast majority are owned or operated by Vietnamese women. "Nail care workers routinely handle products containing many potentially harmful compounds, some of which are carcinogens or have endocrine disrupting effects, yet are virtually unregulated," Quach says in a statement. "Nail salon workers are likely to have higher exposures to these compounds than the customers they serve." A majority of the workers reported health concerns from exposures to workplace chemicals, says Dung Nguyen of Asian Health Services. "Many of them reported having some health problem after they began working in the industry, particularly skin and eye irritation, breathing difficulties and headaches," Nguyen says. The findings of the preliminary survey are set for the October print issue of Journal of Community Health.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
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