Assessing Indoor Air Pollution within Different Areas of Female Beauty Centers and Exploring Their Relation to Various Respiratory Symptoms

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Author

BsRC, MSc ACP in Critical Care, Lecturer, Dammam University, College of Applied Medical Science, Respiratory Care Department, PO BOX 31441, Dammam, 2435, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The staff working at beauty centers are exposed to various chemical
products used daily in their working environment. Both hair dressers and nail technicians
are exposed to chemicals that are known to have an influence on the respiratory system.
In order to evaluate such influence, this cross-sectional observational study was
conducted on a randomly selected 14 beauty centers in Dammam City, Saudi Arabia. At
the investigated salons, both of respiratory symptoms and the quality of air were
evaluated and data were analyzed statistically. 40.5% out of the 79 subjects included in
the study were hairdressers, 17.7% were nail technicians and (41.8%) were working in
both of the previously mentioned areas as part of their everyday practice. The staff
complained of respiratory symptoms which include dyspnea, cough, phlegm, wheeze, and
shortness of breath. Both hairdressers and nail technicians developed respiratory
symptoms while working in the salons. Indoor Air pollution was assessed and many data
were out of the normal standard ranges which include: relative humidity (RH), volatile
organic compounds (VOC), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ammonia (NH3). We conclude that
good ventilation is required to reduce the influence of such substances on the respiratory
symptoms of the staff working at salons.

Keywords


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