HC28
Artificial fingernail products are made from many chemicals, but the main one in most of these products is ethyl methacrylate (EMA). In 1974 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration outlawed a similar chemical, methyl methacrylate (MMA), used in fingernail products. MMA was proven harmful to nail technicians and customers. However, both MMA and EMA can cause contact dermatitis, asthma, and allergies in the eyes and noseCall problems that nail technicians know about. Both can make the eyes, nose, and other mucous membranes sting, become red, and swell. Customers are at risk, too. Because it is often difficult to tell which chemical in a nail salon is causing a sensitivity or allergy, it is best to control your exposure before you become sensitized.
In the nail salon, to get rid of EMA in the air you breathe, you should apply artificial fingernails at a ventilated work table. It is also helpful to keep all bottles of fingernail liquid tightly capped. Finally, you should look at your work habits to see if they can be improved.
VENTILATED TABLEResearchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have found that a ventilation table protects the nail technician best against breathing EMA. The ventilated table is the most important engineering control for getting rid of EMA in the fingernail salon because the vented table places local exhaust ventilation close to the work area.
Make a hole in the table top for an air intake (called the downdraft face). This downdraft face should be placed on the technician's side of the table. Cover the hole with a screen-like cover (or perforated plate) to prevent things from falling in.
The client's side of the table should be a little higher than the technician's side. This will allow the client's hands to hang over the downdraft face and be as close as possible to the local exhaust ventilation (Figure 2).
An air speed of 620 feet per minute, directly above the 13- by 4-inch downdraft face works well. A 22-inch baffle should surround the downdraft face to pull the moving air closer to the client=s hands.
Different drying times are needed for different fingernail products and different application techniques. Although a stronger and larger airflow will collect more dust during filing and dry the color coat faster, a slower and lower airflow gives better results for the artificial fingernail product.
Use dispenser bottles that have small openings, only large enough for an application brush to enter. The bottle stoppers should be pressure sensitive. A dispenser bottle with a pressure-sensitive stopper and small opening will result in less evaporation of the fingernail liquid and, thus, will cut down on possible exposures to methacrylates (Figure 3).
Nail technicians can also lower their exposures to these airborne chemicals by changing some of their work habits:
To obtain more free information about controlling this hazard or for information about other occupational health and safety issues
call NIOSH* at 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674), or visit the NIOSH Homepage on the World Wide Web at |
Ask for these publications:
Spencer AB, Estill CF, McCammon JB, Mickelsen RL, Johnston OE [1997]. Control of ethyl methacrylate exposures during the application of artificial fingernails. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 58(3):214218.
Spencer AB, Estill CF, McCammon JB, Johnston OE [1997]. NIOSH studies EMA. Nails (November):5054.
*
NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries. All HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show how worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced.
The principal contributors to this publication are Cheryl F. Estill, Amy B. Spencer, Jane B. McCammon, R. Leroy Mickelsen, Ova E. Johnston, Anne Votaw, and Jerome P. Flesch. The drawings are by Dick Carlson, Daniel Farwick, and Daniel Watkins. Desktop publishing was provided by Rosmarie T. Hagedorn and Susan Kaelin.
This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers of this HAZARD CONTROLS to make it available to all interested employers and workers. |