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Ramírez DM, Gutenkunst S, Lothrop N, Quijada C, Chaires M, Cortez I, Sandoval F, Camargo FJ, Gallardo EV, Torabzadeh E, Wagoner R, Lopez-Galvez N, Ingram M, Billheimer D, Wolf AM, Beamer PI. What a mix! Volatile organic compounds and worker exposure in small business beauty salons in Tucson, Arizona. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1300291. [PMID: 38164445 PMCID: PMC10757921 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1300291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Small business beauty salons have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their workplace air. VOCs are present as ingredients in beauty or hair products. They may also form because of chemical reactions, where thermal-styling elements accelerate the volatilization of these compounds. Uncertainties remain about the relationship between air pollutant concentrations and the variety of beauty salon activities in a work shift. Investigating these associations can help determine high-risk services, associated products, and at-risk workers. Methods In this exploratory study, female community health workers recruited beauty salons from target zip codes in predominately Latino neighborhoods, including primarily Spanish-speaking small businesses. We collected salon chemical inventories, business characteristics, and participant activity logs to understand how chemicals and activities influence the total and specific VOC concentrations. We sampled personal total VOCs and specific VOCs from the same shop during the participant work shift. We also measured personal total VOCs for four work shifts per shop. Results A linear mixed effects model of log VOCs on the fixed effect of activity and the random effects of salon and shift within the salon showed that the variance between salons explains over half (55%) of the total variance and is 4.1 times bigger than for shifts within salons. Summa canisters detected 31 specific VOCs, and hazard scores ranged between 0 and 4.3. 2-Propanol (isopropyl alcohol) was the only VOC detected in all shifts of all salons. Discussion In this study, differences in VOC measurements were primarily between salons. These differences may result from differences in ventilation, services rendered, and product lines applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Moreno Ramírez
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | | | - Nathan Lothrop
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Carolina Quijada
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Marvin Chaires
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Imelda Cortez
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Flor Sandoval
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Fernanda J. Camargo
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Emma V. Gallardo
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Elmira Torabzadeh
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rietta Wagoner
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nicolas Lopez-Galvez
- College of Health and Human Services School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Maia Ingram
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Dean Billheimer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Ann Marie Wolf
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Paloma I. Beamer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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