Measurement of selected indoor physical environmental factors in hairdresser salons in a Turkish City.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine electromagnetic fields, electric fields, humidity, temperature, and illumination levels in hairdresser salons located in the downtown area of Aydin, Turkey. Also some health problems which could be related with the occupational factors are evaluated.


METHODS
The study was carried out in 30 hairdresser salons, all of which had been registered within the past 5 years. Electric and electromagnetic fields, illumination, temperature and humidity measurements were determined for hairdryers, hood hairdryers and depilatory heaters in the participating salons. A brief questionnaire about characteristics and the health status of hairdressers and workplace conditions was prepared and administered to the hairdressers at the salons.


RESULTS
The mean electric fields of hairdryers, hood hairdryers and depilatory heaters were determined as 518 +/- 74, 1,123 +/- 199, and 648 +/- 146 in V/m, respectively, at 5 cm from the surface of each device. These appliances generate mean electromagnetic fields in excess of 0.25 microT at 5 cm: hand-held hairdryers, 5.0 +/- 0.7 microT; hood hairdryers, 1.6 +/- 0.3 microT; and depilatory heaters 1.9 +/- 0.6 microT. Total average of cumulative electric and electromagnetic fields, measured at a distance of 90 cm from the surface of these three devices was calculated to be 98.8 V/m and 0.5 microT, in the participating salons.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study suggests that physical environmental factors in the salons may be contributing to the health problems of the hairdressers, and the electrical equipment in the workplaces may have cumulative electric and electromagnetic effects.
Evci
E D
ED
Department of Public Health, Adnan Menderes University, School of Medicine, Aydin 09100, Turkey. devci@yahoo.com
Bilgin
M D
MD
Akgör
S
S
Zencirci
S G
SG
Ergiń
F
F
Beşer
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001505:Beauty Culture; D002947:Cities; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013696:Temperature; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace