摘要：Objectives. We engaged Vietnamese nail salon workers in a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study to measure personal and area concentrations of solvents in their workplace. Methods. We measured average work-shift concentrations of toluene, ethyl acetate, and isopropyl acetate among 80 workers from 20 salons using personal air monitors. We also collected area samples from 3 salons using summa canisters. Results. For personal measurements, the arithmetic mean was 0.53 parts per million (range = 0.02–5.50) for ethyl acetate, 0.04 parts per million (range = 0.02–0.15) for isopropyl acetate, and 0.15 parts per million (range = 0.02–1.0) for toluene. Area measurements were lower in comparison, but we detected notable levels of methyl methacrylate, a compound long banned from nail products. Predictors of solvent levels included different forms of ventilation and whether the salon was located in an enclosed building. Conclusions. Using a CBPR approach that engaged community members in the research process contributed to the successful recruitment of salon workers. Measured levels of toluene, methyl methacrylate, and total volatile organic compounds were higher than recommended guidelines to prevent health symptoms such as headaches, irritations, and breathing problems, which were frequently reported in this workforce. Nail care services has been a booming industry over the past 2 decades. According to industry estimates, the United States currently has more than 58 000 beauty salons and nearly 350 000 licensed nail technicians. 1 California, in particular, experienced the largest expansion in this sector; the number of licensed nail technicians grew nearly 3-fold from 35 500 in 1987 to 114 000 in 2007. 2 The growth of this service sector was also accompanied by significant demographic shifts in this workforce, with the proportion of Vietnamese nail technicians increasing from 10% in 1987 to 59% in 2002. 3 The health and safety of workers in this industry drew public attention because of concerns about hazardous chemical ingredients in personal care products. Nail technicians handle solvents, glues, polishes, and other agents on a daily basis, exposing them to numerous chemicals, many of which are known or suspected to cause cancer, allergies, and respiratory, neurologic, and reproductive harm. Despite their heavy use, industrial chemicals in cosmetic products are largely unregulated in the United States. Of the 10 000 chemicals used in personal care products, nearly 90% have not been assessed for safety. 4 The striking emergence of the nail salon industry, with a workforce composed largely of Vietnamese immigrant workers, combined with the lack of governmental regulation of compounds in cosmetics, underscores the complexity of worker health and safety issues in this vulnerable population. A primary concern lies with the heavy use of volatile compounds in poorly ventilated salons. Solvents such as toluene are used indiscriminately in this profession and pose a threat to workers because they are linked to adverse neurologic and reproductive effects as well as endocrine disruption. 5 , 6 Occupational exposure studies in nail salons are limited, and most are either decades old or were not conducted in the United States. 7 – 9 Thus, data to date have inadequately captured the complexities of this burgeoning industry, the changes in nail care services that are likely to result in changes in chemical use, and the changes in salon characteristics as the business expands. In response to the growing concerns for the nail salon workforce, a community-research partnership between a cancer prevention research organization and a community health center serving indigent Asian populations was established to examine workplace exposure and prevalent health problems to inform worker health and safety promotion efforts. As an initial step to examining the relationship between workplace exposures and adverse health outcomes, we collected personal and area measurements of selected solvents in nail salons with Vietnamese workers. We intended this pilot project to provide descriptive information on solvent levels in nail salons and inhalation exposure among salon workers. Furthermore, we assessed the feasibility of engaging Vietnamese salon owners and workers, a group that has been historically understudied, for future research endeavors. This study is the first to focus on Vietnamese nail salon workers to collect personal and area air monitoring data along with relevant salon and worker characteristics.
