Nervous system disorders and neurotoxic effects The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves in the body. Chemicals can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, restlessness, and lack of coordination. This is caused by breathing vapors from chemicals. Neurotoxicity occurs when exposure to a natural or manmade toxic substance alters the normal activity of the Cancers Cancers are caused by a growth or spread of abnormal cells in the body. This can be caused by exposure to certain chemicals called carcinogens which is a substance that can cause cancer in living tissue. Some chemicals in salons are known or suspected carcinogens. Cancer-causing chemicals are found in many salon products. This raises the concern Where to find chemical ingredient information Material safety data sheets (MSDS) and safety data sheets (SDS) are associated with each product (UCSD, 2023). MSDS are documents that list information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. SDSs are used as a system to catalog information on chemicals, chemical compounds, and chemical mixtures. The SDS also explains the health risks of a product and lists the precautions for worker protection. SDSs are focused on the hazards of working with the material or product in an occupational setting rather than use by a general consumer. SDS must provide the following information: ● The hazardous ingredients in the product. ● How users can be exposed to the chemicals in the product. ● The health and safety risks when using the products. ● Precautions for safely using and storing the products. ● What to do in case of emergencies. Hair salons More than 9,000 chemicals are found in cosmetology products (Halliday-Bell et al., 2009). These products and chemicals are made for professional use only. These users must be trained and certified on the proper use before usage. Hair dye represents the largest segment of chemical products in the hair industry. This is the main source of chemical exposure among hairdressers. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature (EPA, 2023). The high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point. This causes molecules to evaporate from the liquid and enter the air. Chemicals used in the beauty industry release VOCs and carcinogens. Here are a few examples of everyday products and services that are hazardous in the hair salon: ● Bleach is a common product used multiple times a day in a hair salon (Bhattacharya, 2022). Bleach may contain alcohol, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium persulfate, and sodium peroxide. Some possible health effects from using bleach and being exposed to bleach can be eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, central nervous system effects, skin irritation, dermatitis, allergies, and skin and eye burns. ● Chemical relaxers can contain alcohol, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium thioglycolate, boric acid, bromates, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydroxide (CBBC, 2017). These can cause eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, central nervous system effects, skin
nervous system (NINDS, 2023). Hairdressers use solvents and other volatile chemicals associated with neurotoxic effects. Salon workers have been found to suffer from neurological symptoms and diseases at higher rates. A study found that hairdressers have an increased risk of dying from Alzheimer’s Disease, presenile dementia, and motor neuron disease, which are neurological conditions. that occupational exposure to these chemicals may increase the risk of cancer in salon workers (Quach et al., 2010). A study conducted found that hairdressers were at greater risk of breast cancer than women in other occupations (Teglia, 2023). Employees should read each SDS and make sure they understand all information. These must be available to workers in a convenient location (OSHA, 2023). Employers must provide information and training to all workers who use the products. They also must provide information about the chemical potential hazards and how to use the product safely. Ingredients can also be found on the product label, packaging, or print materials of the product (USFDA, 2022). Manufacturers are not required to fully list all ingredients in products for professional use. Product labels should have at minimum the name and address of the manufacturer and distributor. They should also have an identity statement explaining the type of use through the name, description, or illustration. There should also be facts about the product, directions for safe use, or if the product can be unsafe if used incorrectly. All warning and caution statements should also be on the labels.
PRODUCTS AND THE CHEMICALS THEY CONTAIN
irritation, dermatitis, allergies, skin and eye burns, and kidney damage if swallowed. ● Hair coloring is also a highly common service offered in hair salons (Ziff, 2018). Some hair color can contain alcohol, aminophenol, ammonium hydroxide, coal tar dyes, hydrogen peroxide and lead acetate. Possible health effects from exposure to hair color can be eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, skin irritation and dermatitis, allergic reaction, central nervous system effects, skin and eye burns, cancer, as well as lead poisoning. ● Hairspray can contain alcohol, isobutane, methylene chloride and propane (NCPC, 2023). The effects of hairspray could be eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, central nervous system effects, skin irritation, dermatitis, cancer, lung and respiratory problems, chronic cough and breathing problems. ● Products used for permanent waving may contain alcohol, ammonium thioglycolate, boric acid, bromates, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide (CBBC, 2017). Effects of perms can be eye, nose and throat irritation, central nervous system effects, skin irritation, dermatitis, allergies, asthma, and skin and eye burns. ● Some shampoos and conditioners may contain alcohol, colors, fragrance, formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, detergents, quaternary ammonium compounds, sodium lauryl sulfate, tromethamine or diethanolamine (Nutrafol, 2020). Possible health effects from these chemicals could be eye, nose and throat irritation, central nervous system effects, allergies, asthma, and cancer.
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Book Code: CIL0725
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