A comparative survey of pulmonary function among cosmetologists.

摘要

A cross-sectional survey, involving pulmonary function mechanics testing (spirometry) and a self-administered medical and occupational history questionnaire, was conducted to determine if female practicing cosmetologists had an increased prevalence of respiratory abnormalities compared to controls. Additionally, subgroups of black cosmetologists and white cosmetologists were compared for respiratory function and related symptoms. The survey also established differences in occupational exposures between black and white cosmetologists and examined smoking as a confounder of the relationship between occupational exposures and respiratory function.;Indices of pulmonary function were slightly lower among cosmetology subjects than control subjects, which suggested that the occupational exposures of cosmetology may have deleterious effects on pulmonary function. The effects of occupational exposures on pulmonary function in cosmetologists were without gross clinical significance. The differences observed occurred within a narrow range just above the lower limits of normal. The evidence also suggested that white cosmetologists who smoke are at greater risk of respiratory dysfunction than smoking black cosmetologists. Among the complexity of exposures in the cosmetologists' environment, permanent waves for whites, dyes, color rinses, and aerosol hair sprays were shown to be potentially harmful to respiratory function.