Nail salons are known to have strong fumes. In fact, studies have shown that nail salons may host more cancer-causing chemicals than auto garages or oil refineries. A study published this year in the journal Environmental Pollution found that the carcinogenic chemical benzene can be present in many salons. The researchers predicted that the nail salon workers analyzed in their study would have an increased risk of cancer due to their exposure.
"This is a fairly small study, but if this is representative, this is very concerning. Leukemia isn't that common but if the risk is increased by this much, it is no longer a small number of cases," Brian Christman, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association, told Forbes.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that salons be well ventilated and have sufficient airflow. OSHA also suggests that nail-salon workers wear long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and masks to protect themselves from the chemicals in polishes and astringents.