Nail salon workers spend their lives breathing toxic chemical fumes from nail polishes and other products. These chemicals are linked to cancer, lung disease, chronic skin rashes, miscarriages, birth defects, and other severe side effects.
Need a Texas Nail Salon Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with serious health problems after working in a nail salon, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Nail Salon Workers Exposed to Toxic Chemicals
The toxic chemicals that make nail polishes and fake nails look shiny and chip-resistant are also associated with serious side effects. Years of breathing the fumes from nail products can destroy the health of a nail salon worker — and babies who are exposed during pregnancy.
Nail Salon Workplace Hazards
- Lung cancer
- Leukemia or lymphoma
- Birth defects
- Miscarriage
- Skin problems
- Asthma
- Coughing
- Liver or kidney disease
- Vision loss
- Memory loss
- Brain damage
Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers
An investigative report in the New York Times warns that many chemicals used in nail salons have been linked to health problems. Dr. Charles Hwu said he repeatedly encounters a particular set of health problems in manicurists:
“They come in usually with breathing problems, some symptoms similar to an allergy, and also asthma symptoms — they cannot breathe.”
Dr. Hwu continued: “Judging from the symptoms with these women, it seems that they are either smokers, secondhand smokers or asthma patients, but they are none of the above. They work for nail salons.”
Most Common Nail Salon Side Effects
Approximately 31% of nail salon workers reported suffering from headaches, irritations, nausea, or breathing problem — and 26% had irritations of the nose, throat, lungs, skin, and eyes — according to a study by the American Journal of Public Health.
What is the problem?
The average customer is not at risk — but the workers are. Nail salon employees often spend 10-12 hours per day, 6 days a week in poorly-ventilated salons, working just a few inches from a customers’ nails. It is very rare for workers to wear gloves or face masks for protection.
Four Toxic Chemicals of Concern
- Toulene: Clear liquid solvent in many nail polish and fingernail glues. Low-level exposure can cause confusion, light-headedness, dizziness, memory loss, coughing, wheezing, and vision loss. High-level exposure can cause permanent brain damage, organ problems, birth defects, or death.
- Formaldehyde: Ingredient in nail polish and nail hardener. It is known to cause cancer. Low-level exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and throat, coughing, allergic reactions, asthma-like attacks, breathing problems, or short-term memory loss.
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): Small amounts of this ingredient are used in nail polish and polish hardener to make plastics softer and more flexible. It may increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and developmental delays in babies. California added it to a list of chemicals that cause birth defects in 2006.
- Ethyl Methacrylate (EMA) or Methyl Methacrylate (MMA): The main chemical in fake nails. It is associated with allergies, asthma, dermatitis, trembling of the hands, dizziness, light-headedness, and drowsiness. Workers who are removing artificial fingernails should wear face masks to avoid breathing acrylic dust.
Need a Nail Salon Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas nail salon lawyers for a free lawsuit review.