Evaluating an owner‐to‐worker training intervention in California nail salons using personal air monitoring |
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| Authors: | Thu Quach PhD Julie Von Behren MPH David O. Nelson PhD Tuan N. Nguyen CIH CSP ARM Janice Tsoh PhD Minhthu Le Lisa Fu MPH Stella Beckman PhD Peggy Reynolds PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Berkeley, California;2. California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative/Asian Health Services, Oakland, California;3. State Compensation Insurance Fund, Safety and Health Services, Santa Ana, California;4. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California |
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| Abstract: | Background Chemicals in nail products have been linked to numerous health concerns. Methods We recruited Vietnamese‐American nail salon owners and workers in California and randomized salons into an intervention or control group. Owners in the intervention group received training and then provided education to workers in their salons on best practices to reduce workplace chemical exposures. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), toluene, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) were measured using personal air monitors worn by workers during the work‐shift. Results We enrolled 77 salons (37 intervention and 40 control) and 200 workers. There was no significant intervention effect between the two groups. However, MMA and TVOCs were higher for workers who used gel polish and acrylic nails as well as in busy salons. Conclusions Although the intervention did not show reductions in chemical levels, identifying worker tasks and salon characteristics that predict chemical levels can inform future interventions to reduce exposures. |
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| Keywords: | Asian American California nails volatile organic compounds |
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