Addressing Nail Salon Worker Health, Safety and Rights

OVEREXPOSED & UNDERINFORMED: ADDRESSING NAIL SALON WORKER HEALTH, SAFETY AND RIGHTS

Julia Liou, MPH Emerging Issues in AA&NHPI Health, 5/24/16

“Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers” “The Price of Nails” CHEMICALS IN NAIL CARE PRODUCTS

Chemical Possible Health Effects (cancer & Use reproductive) Benzene Known human carcinogen; endocrine disruptor; long-term Nail polish high level exposures can cause acute myelogenous remover leukemia (AML) Benzoyl peroxide Suggestive cancer risk based on animal studies Artificial nail hardener Di-n-butyl Inadequate evidence for cancer in humans and animals; Nail polish phthalate animal studies have been suggestive of adverse birth outcomes (e.g. low birth weight, cleft palate); endocrine disruptor Formaldehyde Some suggestive evidence that workplace exposure could Nail hardeners, lead to more than expected cancers of nose and throat nail polish Glycol Ethers Found to cause birth defects and damage to the testicles Artificial nails in laboratory animals; reduce sperm counts in men (occasionally) Methylene Probable cancer-causing agent in humans (WHO, EPA & Artificial nails Chloride DHHS) Toluene Very high levels during pregnancy could lead to birth Nail polish defects and retard mental abilities, and growth

OVEREXPOSED & UNDERINFORMED

Brave New Films Nail Salon Worker Health Concerns

¨ Adverse Reproductive Outcomes ¤ Concerns related to phthalates transferred across the placental barrier ¤ Occupational hazard line-nail salon workers 3rd largest occupation re: pregnancy related inquires ¤ Low-birth weight ¤ 2015 study: Vietnamese manicurists at greater risk of pregnancy complications such as placenta previa, gestational diabetes, etc.

¨ Cancer ¤ Concerns about regular exposure to known and suspected carcinogens

• Serve over 27,000 patients annually in twelve different Asian languages • Noted the epidemic of health issues among Vietnamese nail salon workers • Patients who are nail salon workers

“To serve and advocate for the Asian community regarding its health rights, and to assure access to high quality health care services regardless of income, insurance status, language, or culture.”

MISSION THE CALIFORNIA HEALTHY NAIL SALON COLLABORATIVE National Healthy Nail & Beauty Salon Alliance At the intersection….

Reproductive Justice

Workers’R ights & Public Economic Health Justice

Environmental Health

& Justice Demographics

¨ Nationwide over 400,000 nail salon workers-Korean, Vietnamese, Nepal

¨ Workers of Asian descent comprise up to 58% of nail salon workforce

¨ Vast majority are female workers, many are of reproductive age

¨ Average yearly income $22,500

NAIL SALON LEGISLATIVE HEARING Local Policy LOCAL POLICY

SAN FRANCISCO NAIL SALON RECOGNITION PROGRAM ORDINANCE

PASSES UNANIMOUSLY!!!! Healthy Nail Salon Program Model Healthy Nail Salon Program Implementation Healthy Nail Salons Recognized!! Healthy Nail Salon Program EPA funded pilot study results suggest the Healthy Nail Salon Program helped to reduce:

} Levels of toluene and TVOCs measured in the salon

} Increased knowledge regarding healthy workplace practices

} All air monitoring results were much lower than the Permissible Exposure Limits (Cal/OSHA) for toluene and Methyl methacrylate Next Steps- Local Statewide Legislation Next Steps Next Steps

QUESTIONS?

Julia Liou [email protected] 510-986-6830 ext. 267