Thesaurosis—from hairspray exposure—a nondisease: Validation studies of an epidemiologic survey of cosmetologists

Abstract In a previously reported epidemiologic survey, 25 of 475 cosmetologists and 21 of 569 noncosmetology control subjects demonstrated one or more of three abnormalities (abnormal chest X ray, reduction of forced vital capacity, or diffusion capacity of the lung) that might indicate the presence of “thesaurosis,” a previously described disease attributable to lung storage of components of hair spray. This report describes the results of examining these subjects and equal numbers of matched control subjects approximately 2 years after the original survey. The original survey X rays were reread by two experienced readers of chest X rays and responders received the following examinations: respiratory questionnaire, chest X ray, spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, and static pulmonary compliance. With one exception, the responding cosmetologists continued their occupation up to the time of reexamination. Neither the chext X-ray findings nor the results of pulmonary function testing substantiate the concept that there is such a disease as thesaurosis from hairspray exposure.