Posted By Ciaran McAleenan
Doreen
I have reproduced a few articles below and listed some hyperlinks for further research.
Best wishes
Ciaran
Chemicals commonly found as ingredients in bleaches used for hair-dressing have been assessed for their health effects by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).
The NICNAS assessment of ammonium, potassium and sodium persulfate was carried out after concerns were raised about their widespread use in the hairdressing industry and the prevalence of skin disease and asthma in that profession.
There was also concern as to whether the information included on the hazard warnings was adequate.
The report found that while occupational control measures are used in formulation plants to protect formulators of the products, no engineering controls are in place in hair salons.
As well, current labels for salon products lack warnings about respiratory sensitisation.
These chemicals are found in approximately 13 home-use consumer products and approximately 40 hairdressing salon products in use in Australia. The persulfate content of home-use products varies from 45% to 82.5% and in salon products from 22% to 88%.
Exposure effects in humans include contact hypersensitivity, contact urticaria, rhinitis, bronchitis and early and late onset asthma.
The report recommends the phasing out of those products that release dust at work.
The full report can be downloaded from the NICNAS website at
www.nicnas.gov.au/public...pec/pec18/pec18index.htm
5 June 2001
WARNINGS ON HAIRDRESSING CHEMICALS FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE
Chemicals commonly found as ingredients in bleaches used for hair-dressing have been assessed for their health effects by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).
The NICNAS assessment of ammonium, potassium and sodium persulfate was carried out after concerns were raised about their widespread use in the hairdressing industry and the prevalence of skin disease and asthma in that profession.
There was also concern as to whether the information included on the hazard warnings was adequate.
The report found that while occupational control measures are used in formulation plants to protect formulators of the products, no engineering controls are in place in hair salons.
As well, current labels for salon products lack warnings about respiratory sensitisation.
These chemicals are found in approximately 13 home-use consumer products and approximately 40 hairdressing salon products in use in Australia. The persulfate content of home-use products varies from 45% to 82.5% and in salon products from 22% to 88%.
Exposure effects in humans include contact hypersensitivity, contact urticaria, rhinitis, bronchitis and early and late onset asthma.
The report recommends the phasing out of those products that release dust at work.
The full report can be downloaded from the NICNAS website at
www.nicnas.gov.au/public...pec/pec18/pec18index.htm
MEDIA: For further information please contact
You could also try this link:
http://www.nicnas.gov.au...u=hairdressing+chemicals
Hairdressing Linked To Birth Defects
Hairdressers are more likely to have babies that are either born small or with major birth defects, suggests research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Over 7000 Swedish hairdressers who had gained their diploma at major hairdressing schools between 1970 and 1995 were monitored. A comparison group in other occupations, but matched for age and sex, was also monitored.
In Sweden training to become a hairdresser lasts three years, and until 1993 the third year was spent practising in salons.
Between 1973 and 1994, 3706 women gave birth to 6960 babies. These women were surveyed to find out the degree to which they had been exposed to hairdressing chemicals while pregnant.
Around two thirds of the women responded (n = 2410). Their answers showed that compared with the comparison group, hairdressers were more likely to give birth to babies that were small for dates - 4.5 per cent compared with 4.1 per cent. And they had a higher percentage of babies born with birth defects - 2.8 per cent compared with 2.1 per cent.
Although there was no clear link between individual exposure and birth defects, frequent perming and spraying during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of having a small for dates baby, say the authors.
Other factors, which could have biased the results, such as mother's age, weight, height and smoking habit, had only marginal impact on the results.
The authors conclude that while the risk seems to be moderate, hairspray contains chemicals, such as ethanol and acetone, that have sometimes been linked to reduced birth weight.
One limitation of the study is that alcohol consumption and spouses age and height were not obtained. These may also have a detrimental effect on infant size.
The authors recommend that protective gloves should be worn and that steps should be taken to ensure proper ventilation throughout salons, but especially in mixing areas.
August 2002
There is an article on Contact Dermatitis at the following URL;
http://www.netdoctor.co....ts/contactdermatitis.htm
For Contact dermatitis: estimated cases reported by dermatologists to EPIDERM and occupational physicians to OPRA, by causative substance, Great Britain 1999-2001 See the following hyperlink;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/xl/odins06.xls
There is an article on psoriasis at
http://www.magent.com/psoriasisskincare.htm
AIRWAYS SYMPTOMS AMONG HAIRDRESSERS IN SALONS WITH AND WITHOUT LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION.
From a poster presentation in International Occupational Hygiene Association, 2000
BE Hollund and BE Moen
University of Bergen, Division of Occupational Medicine,
Ulriksdal 8C, Bergen, Norway
Employees in hairdresser salons are periodically exposed to various chemicals in permanent oils, hair dyes and hair lacquers capable of producing respiratory symptoms. Some of these chemicals are considered to be allergens while other chemicals are irritants and either may cause acute, non-specific respiratory tract reactions shortly after exposure. Persulphate salts and hair dyes have also been associated with chronic and intermittent asthma in hairdressers and chemical workers.
Many of the hairdressing salons in Bergen, Norway, were known to be located in small rooms with no ventilation. The local Labour inspection had ordered installation of local exhaust ventilation into several of the salons at the time of our study.
Little is known about the prevalence of different airway symptoms caused by these highly reactive, low molecular weight chemicals present in hairdresser salons. Such knowledge would be of importance in the prevention of chemical hazards in these working places.
The aim of this study was to study self reported prevalence of respiratory symptoms among hairdressers, and to compare symptoms among hairdressers in salons with and without local exhaust ventilation.
Methods – Temperature and carbon dioxide were measured by a data-logger (Metrosonic 501 SN 1598). The sampling time was about 4 hours. The measurements were taken in 10 salons, 5 with local exhaust ventilation and 5 without local exhaust ventilation, and in 15 different offices.
Personal measurements of ammonia were taken in 10 salons with different ventilation. Sampling of ammonia was performed using filters dipped in 10 % phosphoric acid. Symptoms were obtained by a questionnaire to 100 hairdressers and 95 office workers. The questionnaire sought information about age, allergy, and respiratory symptoms when they were exposed to hairdressing chemicals and smoking habits.
The mean temperatures were about the same at the different locations, and varied from 22.2 to 23 oC.
The concentrations of CO2 and NH3 were significantly higher in hairdresser salons without local exhaust ventilation (CO2 = 1072 ppm, NH3 = 2.4 mg/m3) and lowest in the offices (CO2 = 530 ppm).
Hairdressers in salons with local exhaust ventilation reported less airways symptoms when they were exposed to different hairdressing chemicals compared to hairdressers in salons without ventilation.
The general level of pollution seems to be lower in hairdresser salons with local exhaust ventilation, and there are fewer symptoms.
Source:
http://www.ioha.com/epub...s/cairns2000/posters.htm
Sun creams and shampoos blamed for epidemic of skin rashes
European Commission scientists have identified a chemical, methyldibromo glutaronitrile, in sun creams and shampoo, which is causing rashes, swelling and itching in increasing numbers of people.
Five times as many people are reporting allergic skin reactions as did a decade ago, and as a result of this epidemic, the chairman of the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-Food Products is so concerned that he wants methyldibromo glutaronitrile banned until further research is done.
The chemical is used to prevent the growth of moulds and bacteria, and it particularly affects eczema sufferers. Products made by Boots, Nivea and Pantene contain the chemical, and the companies have been accused of not taking the risk seriously.
Source: The Times UK, 8 August 2002.