A Study to see the effect of occupational exposure in hairdressers

Barbers and hairdressers are subjected to various occupational health risks. Cosmetic products such as shampoos, creams, hair dyes, sprays, and hair conditioners that contain hundreds of chemicals, are being used in barbers' and hairdressers' salons. The objective of this study was to find out the effect of chemicals on hairdressers present in their working atmosphere. PFT parameters were recorded in age and sex matched 60 hairdressers (study group) from the different salons and 60 controls (randomly selected from the general population). All respiratory symptoms (cough, breathless, wheezing, and phlegm) were significantly higher in the hairdressers than in the control group (P < .001). The hairdressers reported that bleaching powder and hair spray were the most irritant chemicals that provoke their respiratory symptoms. Statistical analysis of both groups revealed a significant decrease in FVC (p<0.001), FEV1(p<0.01), PEFR (p<0.01) and MVV(p<0.01) in the study group. These changes show the development of occupational asthma and COPD. These ailments may be due to exposure to various chemicals in working atmosphere. The impaired PFT values (forced vital capacity, FEV1, maximum voluntary ventilation flow, peak expiratory flow) in the hairdressers, compared to the matched controls, were in line with the questionnaire data.