title: Reducing chemical exposures in nail salons through owner and worker trainings: an exploratory intervention study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nail salons represent a rapidly growing industry with mainly Vietnamese immigrant workers. Workers routinely handle nail products containing hazardous compounds, yet have limited accessible information to minimize workplace exposures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a culturally appropriate pilot intervention on workplace chemical exposure reduction strategies. We trained eight Vietnamese owners, who then trained Vietnamese workers in their salons. We conducted pre-, mid-, and post-intervention assessments with workers, including an in-person survey and personal air monitoring of volatile compounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey results suggested statistically significant increases for chemical knowledge and behavioral changes in glove and mask use, and a reduced prevalence of nose, throat, and skin irritations. Air monitoring results showed a net reduction for methyl methacrylate and total volatile organic compounds, but not for toluene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Worker education disseminated through salon owners to their workers can improve work-related knowledge, behavior, health symptoms, and exposures for select air contaminants, although more research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Berkeley, California 94704, USA. thu.quach@cpic.org
authors.forename: Thu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quach
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varshavsky
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Von Behren
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: My
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Tuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Alisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunier
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044466:Asian People; D001505:Beauty Culture; D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014050:Toluene