Chapter 1: Cosmetology Hazards and Occupational Chemical Exposure in Salons (Satisfies Elective Requirement)
Learning objectives Upon completion of this course the learner should be able to: Explain why certain chemicals may be harmful and why. Identify products found in the salon that contain chemicals. Describe how chemicals enter the body. List some examples of hazardous chemicals in salon products.
Name the health issues caused by chemical exposure in the salon. Give examples of ways to reduce exposure to chemicals in the salon.
INTRODUCTION
Studies have found correlations between chemical exposure in salons and adverse health outcomes. Salon workers report negative health effects related to their work. Long term studies of salon workers have found more risks of chronic conditions. Research shows salon workers are at a greater risk for certain health problems compared to other occupations. Reports have compiled decades of research on health problems in the salon workforce. Some of this research found a disproportionate amount of cancers, neurological diseases, birth defects, reproductive disorders, skin diseases, asthma and other breathing problems. 6. Concentration is the amount of a particular chemical. How much of the chemical was in the air that was breathed in, or how much was on the skin or swallowed. Chemical exposure is when the measurement of both the amount of, and the frequency in which a substance comes into contact with a person or environment. Everything is a chemical. The air we breathe is made up of chemicals that include nitrogen, oxygen and tiny amounts of argon and carbon dioxide. The water we drink is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. The presence of the chemical alone does not pose a risk or create a potential risk to a person’s health. Just because a chemical is present, that alone does not make it harmful or hazardous. The amount of the chemical is what makes it dangerous and hazardous.
Cosmetologists are exposed to various chemicals every day in their profession. Many of the products used in salons have been linked to health risks due to chemicals found in their products. Cosmetologists use, inhale and absorb hazardous chemicals daily in the salon. Prolonged and frequent exposure to these substances have been associated with such health issues as asthma, dermatitis, neurological symptoms, cancer and many more. The cosmetology industry is not well regulated in terms of the chemicals in products as well as the health concerns they pose. What makes a chemical hazardous to health? Many products found in salons are classified as hazardous and caution should be used when using and applying these chemicals in a salon. A hazardous chemical is any chemical which 1. Toxicity is the ability of a chemical to cause harm to the body . How toxic the chemical is that the person is exposed to is a factor in how hazardous it is. 2. Length of time exposed to the chemical. The longer a person is exposed, the more of the chemical gets into the body. 3. The individual’s sensitivity to the chemical. 4. The chemical interaction with other chemicals that are exposed. 5. The way the exposure happened. For example, how it got into the body. Chemicals can be present in four different forms: ● Solids. Solids have a definite shape. These can include dust, fibers or powders. An example of a solid in a salon would be talcum powder. ● Liquids. Liquids are chemicals that flow like water. An example of a liquid in the salon would be acetone. When a liquid is in a bottle and is pumped or sprayed in the air, it can be broken into smaller droplets called mist. Hairspray is an example of a liquid being broken into a mist. is a physical hazard or a health hazard. Factors that make a chemical hazardous: How chemicals enter the body There are three main ways for chemicals to enter the body: ● Breathing. Once a chemical enters the lungs through breathing, it can stay there and be carried into the bloodstream or other parts of the body. ● Skin and eye contact. Some chemicals can harm the skin directly. Chemicals may cause burns, irritation, rashes or dermatitis. Chemicals can pass through the skin and enter the bloodstream through cuts or cracked and dry skin. Some can burn or irritate eyes from a chemical splashing or by touching eyes with fingers that have the chemical on them.
CHEMICAL BASICS
● Gases. Gases flow and move freely in the air. You often cannot see or smell a gas, but it can be inhaled in the air we breathe. An example of a gas is helium. ● Vapors. Vapors are like gases because they float freely but they come from liquids that have evaporated in the air. An example of this in a salon is nail polish remover that is evaporated into the air and results in acetone vapor.
A chemical can also get into the eyes if a chemical vapor is present. ● Swallowing. Most people do not swallow a chemical on purpose. This can accidentally happen by eating, drinking or smoking after working around chemicals. This is why it is always important to wash hands and keep food away from work areas.
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Book Code: CFL1024
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