Respiratory disease prevalence in cosmetologists and its relationship to aerosol sprays

A study of the prevalence of respiratory morbidity and ventilatory obstruction in beauty parlour workers

“…The results of the present study support the other cross-sectional studies that have found increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in hairdressers, even after adjusting for smoking. [22][23][24][25] Even asymptomatic workers show prevalence of bronchial obstruction of 4.7%, which denotes the work exposure related upper airway obstruction. Symptomatic workers also show 28% bronchial obstruction.…”

Peripheral Airway Responses to Acute Hair-Spray Exposure

“…In the latter view, deformation of MEFV curves reflects alteration in periph eral airways caliber, phase III slope devia tions represent abnormalities in the elastic properties of the air spaces, and a rise in closing volume can result from both periph eral airway disease and loss of elasticity. Use of single-breath nitrogen and MEFV curves obtained in concert has been infor mative in longitudinal studies of the effects on pulmonary target areas of subjects ex posed to direct [39] and indirect [4] inhal ants, and may detect changes from environ mental pollutants over and above cigarette effects [34], There have been no similar prospective studies of the pulmonary re sponses of healthy subjects to hair-grooming aerosols, the relationship between their use and lung abnormalities resting on the in ferences of animal studies [20], radiologic correlations [25] and occupational investi gations [33,37]. With the exception of the notable Zuskin and Bouhuys contribution [40], the few respiratory function analyses of nonoccupational effects of hair-sprays used the less sensitive spirometric methods [18, 281. Our results in the initial phase of a pro spective study do not confirm the ability of the hair-spray aerosol used to induce acute changes in the small airways of healthy subjects, even with exposures exceeding the manufacturer's instructions for 'heavy' ap plication.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-90-047-2237, Jags Beauty Salon, Norman, Oklahoma.

“…(24,25) In addition to shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest discomfort, other symptoms including irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat, headache, nausea, and vomiting following exposure to various aerosols have been recorded. (24,32,33,34) Peak flow meters have been used to demonstrate reversible airway obstructions associated with the work environment. (24,35,36) Frequently, additional testing such as pulmonary function tests and various immunological tests are included in such studies.…”