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Chemical Hazards

Across the country, advocate organizations and local governments are working together to help prevent chemical exposures and protect worker health by developing programs that encourage the use of less toxic products and safer practices in nail salons. In California, several counties and cities are implementing Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Programs that recognize salons that use less toxic polishes and other nail salon products, improve ventilation, and participate in trainings that focus on best practices for a healthier workplace. Visit cahealthynailsalons.org to find out more about these innovative programs. Click here for more information on the programs in San Francisco, Santa Monica, Alameda County, and San Mateo County.

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Products used in nail salons may contain chemicals that can affect worker health. Using these products can expose nail salon workers to chemicals. Workers may breathe in the harmful vapors, dusts, or mists; get the product on their skin or in their eyes; or swallow the product if it is accidentally transferred onto food or cigarettes.

Working in a nail salon exposes workers to many different chemicals each day. These exposures can "add up," especially when many products are being used at the same time, the products are used day after day, or when there is poor ventilation in the salon. When this happens, workers can get sick. Many nail salon workers also work long hours, which adds to the amount of time they may be exposed to chemicals. These types of exposures may make workers sick immediately or cause effects over time.

Chemical exposures can be controlled. The information below will help you find out what chemicals are in your salon’s products and what steps you can take to reduce exposures and protect worker health. You can find more specific information about the chemicals in your workplace from the safety data sheets (SDS) that manufacturers are required to provide for potentially hazardous salon products.

Hazardous Chemicals Found in Nail Salon Products Products used in nail salons can contain many chemicals that can have serious health effects. Some potentially hazardous chemicals, the types of products they can be found in, and how they can affect a worker include: Acetone (nail polish remover): headaches; dizziness; and irritated eyes, skin, and throat.

(nail polish remover): headaches; dizziness; and irritated eyes, skin, and throat. Acetonitrile (fingernail glue remover): irritated nose and throat; breathing problems; nausea; vomiting; weakness; and exhaustion.

(fingernail glue remover): irritated nose and throat; breathing problems; nausea; vomiting; weakness; and exhaustion. Butyl acetate (nail polish, nail polish remover): headaches and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat

(nail polish, nail polish remover): headaches and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) , (nail polish): nausea and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. Long-term exposures to high concentrations may cause other serious effects.

, (nail polish): nausea and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. Long-term exposures to high concentrations may cause other serious effects. Ethyl acetate (nail polish, nail polish remover, fingernail glue): irritated eyes, stomach, skin, nose, mouth, and throat; high levels can cause fainting.

(nail polish, nail polish remover, fingernail glue): irritated eyes, stomach, skin, nose, mouth, and throat; high levels can cause fainting. Ethyl methacrylate (EMA) , (artificial nail liquid): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating. Exposures while pregnant may affect your child.

, (artificial nail liquid): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating. Exposures while pregnant may affect your child. Formaldehyde (nail polish, nail hardener): difficulty breathing, including coughing, asthma-like attacks, and wheezing; allergic reactions; irritated eyes, skin, and throat. Formaldehyde can cause cancer.

(nail polish, nail hardener): difficulty breathing, including coughing, asthma-like attacks, and wheezing; allergic reactions; irritated eyes, skin, and throat. Formaldehyde can cause cancer. Isopropyl acetate (nail polish, nail polish remover): sleepiness, and irritated eyes, nose, and throat.

(nail polish, nail polish remover): sleepiness, and irritated eyes, nose, and throat. Methacrylic acid (nail primer): skin burns and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. At higher concentrations, this chemical can cause difficulty breathing.

(nail primer): skin burns and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. At higher concentrations, this chemical can cause difficulty breathing. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) , (artificial nail products, though banned for use in many states): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating; loss of smell.

, (artificial nail products, though banned for use in many states): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating; loss of smell. Quaternary ammonium compounds (disinfectants): irritated skin and nose and may cause asthma.

(disinfectants): irritated skin and nose and may cause asthma. Toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate are sometimes referred to in the industry as the "toxic trio". Toluene (nail polish, fingernail glue): dry or cracked skin; headaches, dizziness, and numbness; irritated eyes, nose, throat, and lungs; damage to liver and kidneys; and harm to unborn children during pregnancy. For a broader list of potentially dangerous chemicals that may be found in nail salons, read EPA's Protecting the Health of Nail Salon Workers. Workers need to report any health problems they think are from the products they use in the workplace to their employer and doctor. Employers must follow up on reports of health problems from workers.

Where to Find Information about the Chemicals Found in Nail Salon Products Product information is available on packaging, or in printed materials delivered with the product such as safety data sheets. Product Labels Tip: Make sure your doctor or healthcare provider knows what kind of work you do and the chemicals you use. Tell them if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. At minimum, professional-use nail salon products must provide the following information: The name and address of the product manufacturer or distributor.

An identity statement explaining the type and use of the product through use of name, descriptor, or illustration;

Facts about the product, such as directions for safe use if a product could be unsafe if used incorrectly; and

All necessary warning and caution statements. Safety Data Sheets (often called "SDS") OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires product manufacturers to provide salon owners with a safety data sheet (SDS) for each product used in the salon that may contain a hazardous chemical at 1% or more (or at 0.1% or more for chemicals that may cause cancer) or that could be released into the air above limits set by OSHA or the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The SDS explains the health risks of the product and lists precautions for worker protection. In general, the SDS must provide information about: Hazardous ingredients in the product;

How users can be exposed to the ingredients;

Health and safety risks to users when using the product; and

Precautions for safely using and storing the product, including what to do in emergencies. OSHA recently published an update to its Hazard Communications Standard, changing the classification of chemicals, labeling, and safety data sheet requirements so that they align with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Refer to OSHA's Hazard Communication page to get more information about these changes and when they will go into effect. SDSs will generally contain the same information as SDSs, but all information will be presented in a standard format. Employers should read each SDS and make sure they understand them. They must also make the SDSs available to their workers, such as nail technicians, in a place near the product so workers can conveniently access the information. Employers are also required to provide information and training to all workers who use the product about the chemical's potential hazards and how to use the product safely.