For more than a decade, it has been clearly documented how nail salon workers, mostly Hispanic and Asian immigrants, are exposed not only to exploitation and low wages, but also to nail polishes, glues and removers, with which make true works of art, contain a “toxic trio” of formaldehyde, dicholate and tuluene, closely associated with spontaneous abortions.
In this well-known context, some reports report these risks, specifically in New York, which at the same time encourage coalitions to “sharpen their nails more” to defend a bill that would improve the conditions of manicurists and pedicurists. .
According to a new report from the Ups Nail Salon Coalition of New York, “nail technicians experience many challenges, but health risks remain one of the biggest concerns expressed among this workforce.”
This advocacy group recently surveyed more than 300 workers in these salons who described “heartbreaking” details of the effects that this activity generates on those who have a means to survive in this trade.
Among the findings of this analysis, it was stated that 17% of nail technicians in New York said they had reproductive health problems, that is six percentage points higher than women in the country as a whole.
18% reported having pregnancy complications, compared to 8% of women in the general population.
7% said they had children with birth defects, for the general population, it is 2%-3%.
“We need to take it seriously”
For three years, advocacy groups for nail salon workers in New York have urged the state legislature to pass the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act, but this Wednesday they promoted several events to pressure the leaders of the State Assembly and Senate so that this year they do not let this initiative languish.
“This legislation is urgently needed, especially given growing evidence that nail salon technicians face greater reproductive health harms, including complications during pregnancy and birth defects in children, compared to the general public.” ” activists and elected leaders noted at a simultaneous rally at the offices of New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
The Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act would establish a directory of industry workers and small business owners and government representatives to recommend new labor standards to protect the workplace rights and reproductive health of female employees. in this industry.
“New York is proud to be a national leader in protecting reproductive justice, but there is one area where we are still falling short. “This workforce, made up largely of immigrant women of color, is exposed to such severe occupational health risks that we need to take it seriously,” reacted Queens Senator Jessica Ramos, lead sponsor of this legislation.
The state sector boards promoted by this legislation are gaining momentum across the country as a way to raise standards in many low-wage industries where women make up a significant portion, from nursing homes, home care and restaurant dining. fast.
Behind a miscarriage
Participants in the protests in Albany and the Bronx included nail salon workers facing health risks and exploitation, members and leaders of the NY Healthy Girls’ Salon Coalition, the New York Occupational Safety and Health Committee (NYCOSH) and Adhikaar.
“My doctor used to say that the environment affects a child’s health, but he never specified what type of environment. Now that I know about the harms of the industry, I am connecting my long hours, no breaks and exposure to chemicals, as the reasons behind my miscarriage,” said one woman surveyed, who has been a manicurist for ten years.
Likewise, the Ecuadorian Luisa Zambrano, as she preferred to be called for this interview, assures that she learned this trade in her native country, achieved her certifications and always takes advice on the minimum protection rules.
“You can permanently use masks and gloves, although there is always a risk of fungi and bacteria. In my case, bending over for so long affected my spine. I am now an older woman. But the worst thing is how it affects your mental health, the working conditions imposed by certain employers, who treat you like a slave, because they know that you need the job,” shared the 52-year-old migrant, with 15 years dedicated full-time complete to this aesthetic activity.
There is no ventilation
And as the Ups Nail report determined, the “toxic trio” in nail salons is just the tip of the iceberg, as workers face dozens of other toxins, which are dangerous for workers and clients alike. , which can cause headaches, asthma, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and other ailments.
The survey results also reiterated many well-known risk factors: Only 46% of workers reported that there is a ventilation system in their workplace, despite regulations enacted by the New State Department of Health. York in 2015.
In addition, 40% of those consulted who use acrylic nails are exposed to chemicals that can cause damage to the development of the fetus, in addition to skin and respiratory problems.
A high risk
It was also made clear how, 40% of the workers confirmed that they had strong chemical odors in their living room and another 35% reported that there was a very large exposure to these substances, but over time they got used to them.
As the Ups Nail Salon Coalition states in its report, a 2016 meta-analysis conducted by the National Institute of Health suggests that “pregnant women exposed to volatile organic
“Compounds such as toluene and formaldehyde, present in many manicure products, have a greater risk of having a child with autism.”
Likewise, a more recent study from 2019, carried out by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, women who were exposed for long hours to these chemicals such as solvents, were more likely to have children with autism than women who do not exercise this work.
It is estimated that there are now almost 400,000 nail salon workers in the country, with the Big Apple, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and Poughkeepsie, having the largest number of these establishments.
The three advantages of legislation:
- A new foundation would be built for the entire industry to support thriving, sustainable nail salon communities and businesses across the state.
- Industry experts (both workers and owners) would be trained to work with the government to develop solutions tailored to the needs of nail salons.
- Fair prices for nail services would be established, to support better working conditions, improve customer experiences, and level the playing field for responsible salon owners.
Exploited women:
- 85% of workers in this industry identify as women.
- 73% identify ethnically as Asian and 21% as Hispanic.
- 80% of these workers’ respondents report wage theft, and it is estimated that they lost an average of $9,400 in wages per year.