Fragrance chemicals in nail salons: Personal inhalation exposures and potential sources

The indoor air of nail salons is full of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which have fragrances. Little is known about the fragrance chemicals in nail salons, as fragrance ingredients are not required on nail product labels and are considered trade secrets. This study aimed to identify fragrance chemicals and their potential sources and exposures in nail salons. Indoor air samples were collected in seven nail salons in the Greater Boston Area between November 2016 and June 2017. Personal samples were also collected from ten nail salon workers during their work shifts. Follow-up area sampling was performed in two salons one year after the initial visits. All air samples were collected using thermal desorption (TD) tubes and analyzed on a TD-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system targeting 55 fragrance chemicals. Eighteen compounds were detected in air samples, including terpenes, alcohols, carbonyls, ethers, and esters. The concentrations displayed limited spatial variation within a salon but moderate variation over time. The highest median personal inhalation concentrations were benzaldehyde (36.4 μg/m³), 2-ethylhexanol (30.0 μg/m³), d-limonene (16.6 μg/m³), and 2-butoxyethanol (12.6 μg/m³). Highest personal levels were reached by maximum concentrations of 2-butoxyethanol (<1611 μg/m³)), d-limonene (<413 μg/m³), and methyl salicylate (<113.5 μg/m³). Personal concentrations of most compounds were highly correlated with area concentrations (Spearman correlations = 0.69−0.92). Fragrance concentrations from area and personal air samples did not correlate significantly with the ventilation rate. Cleaning agents, personal care products, and nail products were identified as important possible emission sources. This study reveals a subset of fragrance chemicals in nail salons’ indoor air and calls for future research on a full spectrum of these chemicals, their health effects among nail salon workers, and ways to reduce these exposures.