Health risks associated with hazardous airborne chemicals in beauty salons: A pilot study in Kuwaiti salons

The beauty industry has become increasingly popular in recent years, leading to a surge in salon visits for various beauty treatments. However, public concerns were raised about the possible health dangers linked to the widespread use of harmful chemicals in beauty salons. To address these concerns, a pilot study was conducted in Kuwait to evaluate and identify the ten most commonly occurring hazardous airborne chemicals in different beauty salons. Air samples were gathered from inside and outside ten beauty salons situated in diverse regions of Kuwait, covering various periods, including working hours, non-working hours, and a continuous 24-h period. The study used diffusion tubes for sampling and employed the thermo-desorption gas chromatograph/mass spectroscopy technique (TD-GC/MS) to identify the chemical compounds. In addition, the measured concentration of compounds was utilized to assess the potential inhalation health risks associated with both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances, employing the USEPA Cancer Risk Indicator (CRI) and Hazard Quotient Indicator (HQI). The findings indicated that indoor concentrations of hazardous chemicals were significantly higher than those recorded outdoors. A total of 55 hazardous chemicals were detected in the indoor air quality inside beauty salons, and benzene concentrations exceeded ACGIH thresholds, suggesting a potential health concern. Although concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene remained below NIOSH recommendations, health risk assessments indicated the potential carcinogenicity of three compounds in the indoor air of beauty salons: benzene, ethylbenzene, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. Additionally, 15 compounds were identified by non-carcinogenic risk assessments, such as ethyl acetate and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. These findings emphasize the urgency of implementing measures to address the exposure in Kuwait's beauty salons and conducting further research.