Chemical exposure There are a few ways to tell if there has been exposure to a chemical: ● Odor : If there is a smell of the chemical that means that it is being breathed into the body. Not all chemicals with odors are toxic. Some chemicals may have an odor but can be harmless. Also, some toxic chemicals will have no odor at all. ● Taste : If the chemical is breathed in or swallowed, it may leave a taste in the mouth. Again, not all chemicals that leave a taste in your mouth will be toxic and some toxic chemicals will have no taste.
● Particles : Mucus that is coughed up will have particles from the chemical in it. Also, particles can be seen when blowing the nose. ● Surfaces : Chemicals that are in the air can settle on surfaces in the form of dust, powder, or mist. Watch for buildup on surfaces on and around workstations. ● Symptoms : Some people may experience symptoms caused by the chemicals. This would include tears in the eyes, burning on the skin, nose or throat irritation, dizziness, or headaches due to chemical exposure at work.
HEALTH EFFECTS
while for the problems to show up. This is usually caused by regular exposure to a harmful substance over a long period of time. This is usually permanent, like asthma after years of inhaling hairspray. Studies have shown the below conditions to be the most frequent health effects from chemicals in the salon. to numerous irritating and sensitizing chemicals during the workday. Their hands also are in water often doing things such as shampooing while using chemicals at the same time. Long periods of exposure to moisture can break down the skin’s natural barrier. This allows more absorption of chemicals and increases the chance of skin irritation. Some examples of chemicals in the salon that cause skin conditions include hair dyes and bleaches, perm solution, fragrances, and acrylates associated with acrylic nails. lung disease (Scranton, 2014). Another study found that hairdressers were more than four times more likely to suffer from chronic bronchitis than a controlled group of other occupations. They also had 70% increased chance of chronic nasal problems like sneezing and runny nose, a 40% greater chance of coughing, and 50% greater chance of shortness of breath (Leino, T. 1997). All these research studies concluded that allergenic and irritative chemicals in hair salons are the difference between the hairdressers and control groups. A common factor found in these studies is that many of the respiratory symptoms in the salon workers were only associated with their work environment. Their symptoms appeared to improve during vacations or days away from the salon (Roelofs, C. 2008). irritants can cause a runny nose, scratchy throat, burning, and itching. Lung irritants could include breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some examples of products in the salon that contain irritants are perms, relaxers, acrylic nail products, and hairsprays.
Effects from exposure to hazardous chemicals may be categorized as either acute or chronic (NYSDOH, n.d.). Acute health effects appear immediately or soon after exposure to the chemical. They can be minor like nose or throat irritation from breathing in the chemicals. They can also be serious like eye damage from a chemical splash. There can also be chronic health effects that may take a Skin conditions Skin conditions are the most common work-related health effects reported among salon workers (Lysdal et al., 2011). This includes dermatitis, eczema, and skin rashes. These mostly affect the hands of salon workers since that is what part of the body is using the chemicals. Upwards of 60% of salon workers have reported having these skin conditions. Hairdressers are two to three times more likely to suffer from skin conditions than those people in other occupations (Bradshaw et al., 2011). Salon workers’ hands are exposed Respiratory conditions Another common kind of health effects experienced by salon workers are breathing problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, cough, and nasal symptoms (Lillienberg et al., 2013). Salon products contain chemicals that can build up in the air of the salon. Some of these chemicals are lung irritants and allergens. This is called occupational asthma and hairdressers have one of the highest risks of new-onset asthma compared to workers in other occupations. Salon workers are at greater risk for other chronic lung diseases as well as other breathing problems. A study of medical centers in 15 states found that hairdressers were four times more likely to be diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which is an unexplained fatal chronic Irritants Some chemicals can cause immediate irritations. They can produce immediate reactions when they meet the skin, eyes, nose, throat, or lungs. Many products found in salons contain irritants. Symptoms of eye irritants can include burning, watering, itchy and red eyes. Nose and throat Reproductive disorders Most salon professionals are women, including 90.8% of hair stylists (Zippia, 2023). Toxic solvents and endocrine- disrupting chemicals have been associated with adverse Allergies Allergies are reactions that people have when they are overly sensitive to a particular chemical. This will cause a reaction every time the chemical is used. Chemicals that can cause allergies are called allergens . Allergies can develop at Dermatitis Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin from contact with a chemical. A skin rash from chemical contact would be allergic dermatitis. Symptoms of dermatitis are flaking,
reproductive outcomes such as pregnancy problems and birth defects that are commonly found in salon products (Zlatnik, 2016).
different times for different people. Symptoms of allergies may include a stuffy nose, tears in the eyes, wheezing, or coughing. Asthma would be considered a serious allergic reaction to a chemical.
dryness, redness, itching and burning of the skin. This is caused by a chemical getting on the skin and irritating it.
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