title: Characterizing workplace exposures in Vietnamese women working in California nail salons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We engaged Vietnamese nail salon workers in a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study to measure personal and area concentrations of solvents in their workplace.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured average work-shift concentrations of toluene, ethyl acetate, and isopropyl acetate among 80 workers from 20 salons using personal air monitors. We also collected area samples from 3 salons using summa canisters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For personal measurements, the arithmetic mean was 0.53 parts per million (range = 0.02-5.50) for ethyl acetate, 0.04 parts per million (range = 0.02-0.15) for isopropyl acetate, and 0.15 parts per million (range = 0.02-1.0) for toluene. Area measurements were lower in comparison, but we detected notable levels of methyl methacrylate, a compound long banned from nail products. Predictors of solvent levels included different forms of ventilation and whether the salon was located in an enclosed building.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a CBPR approach that engaged community members in the research process contributed to the successful recruitment of salon workers. Measured levels of toluene, methyl methacrylate, and total volatile organic compounds were higher than recommended guidelines to prevent health symptoms such as headaches, irritations, and breathing problems, which were frequently reported in this workforce.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA. thu.quach@cpic.org
authors.forename: Thu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quach
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunier
authors.forename: Alisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Von Behren
authors.forename: Phuong-An
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Doan-Billings
authors.forename: Kim-Dung
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Okahara
authors.forename: Benjamin Yee-Bun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Mychi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001505:Beauty Culture / Q000592:standards*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020366:Methylmethacrylate / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; C069372:isopropyl acetate; D014050:Toluene; C007650:ethyl acetate