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Indoor Air Quality of Beauty Parlours and Salons

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Journal of Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology
p-ISSN: 2349-8404; e-ISSN: 2349-879X; Volume 4, Issue 1; January-March, 2017, pp. 1-4
© KrishiSanskriti Publications
http://www.krishisanskriti.org/Publication.html

Indoor Air Quality of Beauty Parlours and Salons

Vaishali Nayak1, Maham Malik 2, Nitish Kr. Sinha3 and Anamika Paul4
1,2,3,4
School of Chemical Engineering, Galgotias University, India
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected],
1
3
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract—The business of beauty parlour has played a major role in 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
generating employment for many people all over the world, and in
India. In order to remain profitable and successful, this growing
Parlour workers are potentially exposed to a range of hazards
business needs to meet and maintain high standards of hygiene,
health and safety, so that no risk is posed to the customers and
in their work environment. The strong chemical odours
workers. Parlour workers, a population dominated by women, are emanating from parlours have generated complaints to health
exposed to a myriad of chemicals of concern everyday in their departments and have stimulated environmental, health, and
workplaces. Hair sprays, hair colours, bleaches, permanent waves, community advocates to raise concerns about potentially
acrylic nail application, and numerous other parlour products hazardous chemicals used in parlour products. As a result,
contain ingredients associated with asthma, dermatitis, neurological there is more and more demand for exposure assessment in
symptoms and even cancer. Cosmetologists may be exposed to high parlours to determine if the smells, vapours, and dusts in
concentrations of a mixture of volatile organic compounds. These parlours are just a “nuisance” or if they are hazardous to the
levels of volatile organic compounds could be decreased significantly
health of workers and patrons.
by following good practices such as appropriate ventilation of the
areas, closing the packages of the beauty products when not in use According to the guideline proposed by the level of Total
and finally selecting safer beauty products without strong odour. Due Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) should not exceed 200
to the concerns associated with the beauty salons, this study was μg/m3[2], in order to ensure human comfort. So, the chemical
conducted to identify health issues experienced by the workers and
ingredients present in the products used for various beauty and
customers that may be associated with the environment of beauty
parlour. Based on the results of the physical survey conducted to hair treatments may toxicate the parlour environment. Table 1
correlate the impacts of the environment along with the health gives an idea about the interior environmental exposure
concerns experienced by the workers, the present study proposes limiting conditions of parlours and salons [2].
possible improvements in the design and ventilation systems in Table 1: Chemicals and exposure limit [2]
parlours as a measure to address and reduce the adverse health
effects related to the environment of the salons.
Chemical Compound Concentration (max)
1. INTRODUCTION Dibutyl phthalate 5 mg/m3
Toluene 187.5 mg/m3
Precise statistics on the beauty parlour workforce are difficult Formaldehyde 1 mg/m3
to obtain given the nature of the industry. A KPMG Wellness P-phenylenediamine 0.1 mg/m3
sector report launched in April 2016, projected that the size of Acetone 2400 mg/m3
Titanium dioxide 10 mg/m3
India’s beauty and wellness market would nearly double to Rs
80,370 crore by 2017/18 from Rs 41,224 crore in 2012/13[1].
Also, the report estimates that workforce requirement in the The toxicity of many ingredients in products is clearly
beauty and salon segment will grow from 3.4 million in 2013 established in Table 2 [3,4]. Occupational skin and respiratory
to 12.1 million in 2022[1]. disorders, and disputable reproductive and genotoxic effects
have been linked to the chemical exposure of beauty and salon
Parlour and salon workers may be exposed to a range of products.
chemicals often encompassing a wide range of products. The
exposure could be over widely varying time periods in their Table 2: Chemicals of Concern [3][4]
work environment, often without adequate ventilation, or the
use of personal protective equipment. The inherent properties Chemical Found in Health concerns
name
of cosmetics and their ingredients support the concern about
1,4-dioxane Shampoo, liquid soap. Cancer, birth defects.
the health of people working often very long work weeks in
salons. Additionally, the potential for human exposure via
inhalation, skin contact, or skin absorption is also apparent.
2 Vaishali Nayak, Maham Malik, Nitish Kr. Sinha and Anamika Paul

nail polish, foundations, Developmental and Table 3: Indoor Air Quality Standards [5]
Benzophenone sunscreens, fragrance, reproductive toxicity,
shampoo, conditioner, hair ecotoxicity . Limits (maximum)
spray, moisturizer Components Residential Sensitive Areas
Butylated hair products, makeup, Endocrine disruption Ammonia 0.4mg/m3 (24 hr) 0.4mg/m3 (24 hr)
Compounds sunscreen, creams . Carbon monoxide 4mg/m3 (1 hr) 2mg/m3 (1 hr)
Ethanolamine shampoos, hair Cancer, 3
2mg/m (8 hr) 1mg/m3 (8 hr)
Compounds conditioners and dyes, bioaccumulation, Repairable particulate
organ system toxicity matter
Formaldehyde Nail polish, nail glue, Cancer, skin irritation a) Size < 10 100µg/m3 (24 hr) 75µg/m3 (24 hr)
eyelash glue, hair gel, hair- µm 25 µg/m3 (24 hr) 25µg/m3 (24 hr)
smoothing. b) Size <
Octinoxate Hair color products and Endocrine disruption, 2.5µm
shampoos, nail polish, reproductive and Suspended particulate 200µg/m3 (24 hr) 100µg/m3 (24 hr)
developmental matter
Acetone Nail polish removers organ toxicity and NOx 80µg/m3 (24 hr) 30 µg/m3 (24 hr)
cance Ozone 100µg/m3 ( 8hr) 100 µg/m3 (8hr)
Toluene Nail polish, nail glue, hair Liver damage, kidney
dye, damage, birth defects,
pregnancy loss One technique for controlling odours and contaminants is to
Titanium Sunscreen, pressed and Cancer (Inhalation dilute them with outdoor air. Dilution can work only if there is
Dioxide loose powders Exposure Only) a consistent and appropriate flow of supply air that mixes
effectively with room air.
Parabens Shampoos, conditioners, Pregnant women and
lotions, facial and shower young children
HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning) is the
cleansers and scrubs . technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its
goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air
quality.
A limited number of studies have conducted indoor air
monitoring in parlours to better scharacterize the potentially Another technique for isolating odours and contaminants is to
hazardous chemicals found in the air that salon workers and design and operate the HVAC system so that pressure inside
their clients breathe. The data from air monitoring studies the rooms is controlled. This control is accomplished by
have routinely shown, that certain chemicals tend to be present adjusting the air quantities that are supplied to and removed
in parlour air at disproportionately higher levels than other from each room. If more air is supplied to a room than is
places such as offices or homes. exhausted, the excess air leaks out of the space and the room is
said to be under positive pressure. If less air is supplied than is
Research is needed to better understand the potential exhausted, air is pulled into the space and the room is said to
synergistic or additive effects of multiple simultaneous be under negative pressure.
exposures in parlours.
A third technique is to use local exhaust systems (sometimes
The indoor air quality has become a major concern in recent known as dedicated exhaust ventilation systems) to isolate and
years. Chemicals released from various cosmetics and the remove contaminants by maintaining negative pressure in the
architecture of parlour together may cause hazardous health area around the contaminant source.
effect to workers and customers. Table 3 shows Indoor Air
Quality (IAQ) standards as included in US National Ambient An air change is how many times the air enters and exits a
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) [5]. room from the HVAC system in one hour. Or, how many
times a room would fill up with the air from the supply
Indoor air pollution is bigger killer than outdoor air pollution registers in sixty minutes, a method of measuring the volume
in India with the recent global burden of diseases report listing of air moving through a ventilation system or other space is
the former as second biggest killer and latter as fifth largest. known as “Cubic Feet per Minute” CFM. Table 4 gives the air
According to a report, around 1.3 million people died of change rates for rooms/buildings.
indoor air pollution in 2010 whereas death because of outdoor
air pollution was around 0.62 million[6]. Indoor air pollution Table 4: Air Change Rates for buildings [7]
is second biggest killer after high blood pressure in India. A
small percentage of the population may be sensitive to a Room Air change rates/ hour
number of chemicals in indoor air, each of which may occur at Auditorium 8-15
very low concentrations. This condition is known as Multiple Barber Shop 6-10
Beauty Shop 6-10
Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
Cafeteria 12-15

Journal of Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology

p-ISSN: 2349-8404; e-ISSN: 2349-879X; Volume 4, Issue 1; January-March, 2017
Indoor Air Quality of Beauty Parlours and Salons 3

Uniformity of temperature is important to comfort. If air is not Calculation for CFM

properly mixed by the ventilation system, the temperature near
the ceiling can be several degrees warmer than at floor level. The required CFM was calculated using the following
CFM calculation gives us an idea about the mechanical equation:
ventilation (AC) required to maintain the air quality inside the CFMs= (V × ACR)/ 60
salons. Engineering room airflow may present a real challenge
when balancing an HVAC system. The American Society of Where: ACR = air change rate per hour
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
CFM = air flow through the room (ft3/min)
(ASHRAE) recommend that beauty salons maintain 25 CFM
of fresh air per person via mechanical ventilation. V = volume of the room (ft3)

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION As shown in Table 4, the air change/hr for beauty shops is in
the range of 6 to 10. Assuming this air change rate for the
As mentioned earlier, adequate ventilation is necessary in three parlours, CFMs were estimated for the three parlours and
public and workplaces, and in beauty salons. In the present are given in the following table.
study, data was collected from three parlours. The internal Table 7: Estimated CFMs for the parlours
environmental survey data of the parlours are presented is
shown in Table 5. Parlour CFM (taking air CFM (taking air
Table 5: Case studies change/hr =6) change/hr = 10)
A 500 833.3
Parlour A Parlour B Parlour C B 330 550
Mechanical Yes (AC Yes ( AC No C 150 250
ventilation unit ) unit )

Ventilation Yes Yes Yes The dimensions and the room volumes of each Parlour are
working given below:
Local exhaust No No Yes (exhaust fan)
Other ventilation No No No Parlour A: L=25ft., W=20ft, H=10ft
(using)
Volume = 4917 ft3
Shop volume 5,000 3,300 1,500
(ft3) Parlour B: L=22ft., W=15ft, H=10ft
Area (ft2) 500 330 150
No. of occupants 168/day 96/day 48/day Volume = 3300 ft3
Chemical odour High High Low Parlour C: L=15ft., W=15ft, H=10ft
Volume = 1500 ft3
Two of the parlours had mechanical ventilation with no open
window ventilation. Although it was not verifiable that these Assuming one ton (1T) air conditioner handles 400 CFM in
systems were appropriate for the present poor condition one sweep, loads (tonnage) of the required ACs are estimated
observed in the salon. The salons and parlours have elevated for air change rates of 6/hr and 10/hr, respectively. The
level of VOCs, also with nuisance of strong chemical odors. estimated values are given in Table 8.
Having proper ventilation system will provide a continuous
Table 8: Estimated Air Conditioner Loads
supply of fresh outside air, maintain the temperature and
relative humidity level, reduce explosion hazards, and reduce
Parlour Ton (air change/hr =6) Ton (air change/hr = 10)
or remove airborne contaminants. A 1.25 2.08
Also, the external environment annually in the same region is B ~1 1.5
shown in Table 6. C ~ 0.5 1

Table 6: External Environment

For big parlours having area approximately 5000 ft3 an air
conditioning unit of 1.25 ton (6 hr) and 2.0 ton (10 hr) is
Parameters Limits/Range
Temperature Summer - 45˚C (max) minimal requirement of mechanical ventilation to maintain the
Winter- 13˚ C (min) air quality. For parlour having volume 3300 ft3 required AC is
Relative humidity 30-65% 1 ton (6 hr) and 1.5 ton (10 hr) and for parlour having small
Air movement 0.8 feet/s or 0.25 m/s capacity 1500 ft3 the required AC unit is 0.5 ton (6 hr) and 1
ton (10 hr).

Journal of Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology

p-ISSN: 2349-8404; e-ISSN: 2349-879X; Volume 4, Issue 1; January-March, 2017
4 Vaishali Nayak, Maham Malik, Nitish Kr. Sinha and Anamika Paul

Additionally, gas detectors can be installed in the rooms where

the products are being stored and used. This will facilitate in
detecting higher levels of emitted gas from the product than
the pre-set level which would automatically turn on the
ventilation system leading to dilution or exhausting the air.
The recent alarm regarding the delhi air quality index was
highlighted when the PM2.5 peaked at an extremely large
value of 883μg/m3. This was more than 14 times the standard
value of 60 μg/m3[9]. It should be noted that the air quality
within commercial salons resembles the aforementioned poor
quality standards at most times. Therefore, the manufacturer
can be considered to be responsible to create and produce safe
cosmetic products. This will facilitate to control the air quality
in the commercial parlours and also assist in mitigating
hazardous health outcomes among workers.
Additionally, if green chemistry is employed to reformulate
products that contain the most troublesome chemicals will
substantially reduce the health hazards associated with the
poor air quality presently observed in the parlours. As
suggested in the present study, the parlours should be well
ventilated. Assessment of the interior environment of the
parlours may lead to commercial salons being distinguished
between “better” and “worse” parlours from the perspective of
workers and customers.
REFERENCES

[1] L. Must and R. Tech, “Beauty and grooming industry is

booming in India- Business News,” KPMG Wellness Rep., no.
Business Today Magazine, 2016.
[2] C. Roelofs and T. Do, “Exposure Assessment in Nail Salons : An
Indoor Air Approach,” vol. 2012, 2012.
[3] Alexandra Scranton, “Beauty And Its Beast,” Beauty and Its
beast, no. November, 2014.
[4] J. C. Hubinger, “A survey of phthalate esters in consumer
cosmetic products,” vol. 465, no. December, pp. 457–465, 2010.
[5] S. Epa et al., “NAAQS Table,” vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 3–5, 2017.
[6] C. Harvey, “Air pollution in India is so bad that it kills half a
million people every year,” pp. 5–7, 2016.
[7] C. F. M. Air, C. Feet, C. Feet, S. Grille, and C. Feet, “Air
Change Rates,” Air Chang. rates, vol. C, no. 1.
[8] F. Days, S. Days, R. Days, T. Days, and S. Days, “New Delhi ,
Delhi Monthly Climate Average , India,” no. cm, pp. 1–7, 2017.
[9] D. Nath, “Delhi ’ s pollution levels peak at 14 - 16 times safe
limits,” vol. 680, pp. 10–11, 2016.

Journal of Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology

p-ISSN: 2349-8404; e-ISSN: 2349-879X; Volume 4, Issue 1; January-March, 2017

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