Risk factors for asthma among cosmetology professionals in Colorado.
OBJECTIVE
After receiving several reports of occupational asthma among cosmetology professionals, we studied the prevalence, work-attributable risk, and tasks associated with asthma in this industry.


METHODS
We selected a stratified random sample of cosmeticians, manicurists, barbers, and cosmetologists holding licenses in Colorado for a mail survey instrument.


RESULTS
The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma among the 1883 respondents (68% response rate) was 9.3%; of these, 67 (38%) developed asthma after entering the cosmetology profession. Multivariate analyses showed that hairstyling, application of artificial nails, and shaving and honing were significantly associated with asthma arising in the course of employment (P < 0.005) with relative risks of 2.6-2.9.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased risk of asthma with onset during employment among cosmetologists is probably attributable to their exposure to sensitizers and irritants in tasks demonstrated to be associated with asthma.
Kreiss
Kathleen
K
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA. kxk2@cdc.gov
Esfahani
Reza S
RS
Antao
Vinicius C S
VC
Odencrantz
John
J
Lezotte
Dennis C
DC
Hoffman
Richard E
RE
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001461:Barbering / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001505:Beauty Culture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk
D003358:Cosmetics