Microbiome alterations from volatile organic compounds (VOC) exposures among workers in salons primarily serving women of color.

Salon workers, especially those serving an ethnically and racially diverse clientele (i.e., Black/Latina), may experience disparately high levels of workplace exposures to respiratory irritants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Salon workers are also reported to have a greater risk of developing respiratory conditions compared to the general population. Emerging evidence suggests that occupational chemical exposures may alter the human microbiome and that these alterations may be an important mechanism by which workplace VOC exposures adversely impact respiratory health. This preliminary research investigated the potential effects of 28 VOC urinary biomarkers on the 16S rRNA nasal microbiome in 40 workers from salons primarily serving women of color (Black and Dominican salons) compared to office workers. Our exploratory analysis revealed significant differences in microbial composition by worker group; namely dissimilar levels of Staphylococcus species (S. epidermidis and S. aureus, specifically) in salon workers compared to office workers, and higher alpha diversity levels in workers in Dominican salons compared to workers in Black salons. Within-sample alpha diversity levels tended to be decreased with higher VOC urinary biomarker concentrations, significantly for carbon disulfide, acrolein, acrylonitrile, crotonaldehyde, and vinyl chloride biomarkers. Our research highlights that occupational exposures, particularly to chemicals like VOCs, can impact the respiratory microbiome in the vulnerable salon worker group. Further understanding of the potential effects of chemical mixtures on microbial composition may provide key insights to respiratory health and other adverse health outcomes, as well as direct prevention efforts in this largely historically understudied occupational population.

Biomonitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among hairdressers in salons primarily serving women of color: A pilot study.

Hairdressers are exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which have been linked to acute and chronic health effects. Those hairdressers serving an ethnic clientele may potentially experience disproportionate exposures from frequent use of products containing VOCs or different VOC concentrations contained in products which are marketed to the specific needs of their clientele. However, no biomonitoring studies have investigated occupational exposures in this population. In the present pilot study, we sought to characterize concentrations and exposure determinants for 28 VOC biomarkers in post-shift urine samples among 23 hairdressers primarily serving an ethnic clientele. VOC biomarker concentrations among hairdressers of color were compared to concentrations among a comparison group of 17 office workers and a representative sample of women participating in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. VOC biomarkers were detected in all hairdressers with higher concentrations observed among hairdressers serving a predominantly Black versus Latino clientele, and among hairdressers overall versus office workers and women in the U.S. general population. Median biomarker concentrations for acrolein,1,3-butadiene, and xylene in hairdressers were more than twice as high as those observed among office workers. Median concentrations for 1-bromopropane, acrolein and 1,3-butadiene were more than four times higher among all hairdressers compared to those reported among women in the U.S. general population. Select salon services (e.g., sister locs, flat ironing, permanent hair coloring, permanent waves or texturizing, Brazilian blowout or keratin treatment, etc.) were also associated with higher VOC biomarker concentrations among hairdressers. This pilot study represents the first biomonitoring analysis to characterize VOC exposures among women hairdressers of color and to provide evidence that this occupational population may experience elevated VOC exposures compared to women in the U.S. general population. Results from our study represent an important first step in elucidating occupational VOC exposures in this understudied occupational group. Larger studies among a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of hairdressers are warranted to confirm our findings and inform future exposure interventions in this understudied occupational population.

Occupational Exposures to Phthalates among Black and Latina U.S. Hairdressers Serving an Ethnically Diverse Clientele: A Pilot Study.

Hairdressers may be differentially exposed to phthalates through hair salon services provided and products used, yet no U.S. studies have investigated these exposures in this population. We characterized concentrations and exposure determinants to nine phthalate metabolites in postshift urine samples among 23 hairdressers from three Black and three Dominican salons, as well as a comparison group of 17 female office workers from the Maryland/Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Overall, hairdressers had higher metabolite concentrations than office workers. The geometric mean (GM) for monoethyl phthalate (MEP) was 10 times higher in hairdressers (161.4 ng/mL) than office workers (15.3 ng/mL). Hairdressers providing select services and using certain products had higher GM MEP concentrations than those who did not: permanent waves/texturizing (200.2 vs 115.4 ng/mL), chemical straightening/relaxing (181.6 vs 92.1 ng/mL), bleaching (182.3 vs 71.6 ng/mL), permanent hair color (171.9 vs 83.2 ng/mL), and Brazilian blowout/keratin treatments (181.4 vs 134.6 ng/mL). Interestingly, hairdressers providing natural services had lower GM MEP concentrations than those who did not: twists (129.1 vs 215.8 ng/mL), sister locs/locs (86.0 vs 241.9 ng/mL), and afros (94.7 vs 203.9 ng/mL). Larger studies are warranted to confirm our findings and identify disparities in occupational phthalate exposures.

Real-time air monitoring of occupational exposures to particulate matter among hairdressers in Maryland: A pilot study.

Hairdressers are exposed to particulate matter (PM), a known air pollutant linked to adverse health effects. Still, studies on occupational PM exposures in hair salons are sparse. We characterized indoor air PM concentrations in three salons primarily serving an African/African American (AA) clientele, and three Dominican salons primarily serving a Latino clientele. We also assessed the performance of low-cost sensors (uRAD, Flow, AirVisual) by comparing them to high-end sensors (DustTrak) to conduct air monitoring in each salon over 3 days to quantify work shift concentrations of PM2.5 , respirable PM (RPM), and PM10 . We observed high spatial and temporal variability in 30-min time-weighted average (TWA) RPM concentrations (0.18-5518 µg/m3 ). Readings for the uRAD and AirVisual sensors were highly correlated with the DustTrak (R2  = 0.90-0.99). RPM 8-hour TWAs ranged from 18 to 383 µg/m3 for AA salons, and 9-2115 µg/m3 for Dominican salons. Upper 95th percentiles of daily RPM exposures ranged from 439 to 2669 µg/m3 . The overall range of 30-min TWA PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations was 0.13-5497 and 0.36-,541 µg/m3 , respectively. Findings suggest that hairdressers could be overexposed to RPM during an 8-hour shift. Additional comprehensive monitoring studies are warranted to further characterize temporal and spatial variability of PM exposures in this understudied occupational population.