Nail polishes, adhesives, and similar products utilized in nail salons may contain various chemicals, including but not limited to:
- Toluene
- Formaldehyde
- Dibutyl Phthalate
- Methacrylate compounds
Failure to observe proper safety measures daily when handling these chemicals can lead to respiratory issues, redness and irritation of the eyes, dry and cracked skin, and other health complications.
Ventilate the room to remove chemical substances from the air
Ventilation - the best way to reduce chemical levels in the salon!
NIOSH laboratory tests show that exhaust ventilation systems can reduce the impact of chemical substances on nail salon workers by at least 50%.
These steps truly help improve the health of workers:
- Whenever possible, bring in fresh air by opening doors and windows. If there is ceiling ventilation in the salon, it should be turned on and operational.
- Always keep the nail salon's exhaust system running.
- If your salon does not have an exhaust system, always keep the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system running during working hours. The HVAC thermostat fan switch should always be set to "on" (not "auto") so that it operates even when heating or cooling is off. The salon owner should have an HVAC contractor clean the HVAC system and replace filters at least once a year.
- Install exhaust fans where possible. Place fans near open doors or windows. Fans should draw air in from one end of the salon and push it out from the other end.