Greening Nail Salons for Employees and Communities

Project Details

Year: 2012
Location:
Project Manager: Megan Reeve, Project Coordinator
Partners: Canton, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Norwood and Westwood

Overview

The coalition’s goal is to raise awareness of toxic chemical exposure in nail salons, focusing on promoting safe product use and behavior. The group will host a regional conference to educate nail shop owners and workers about the health effects of toxics such as acetone, formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and more. They will deliver free samples of less toxic alternatives during site visits to encourage owners to try, and then switch to, the safer products. 'The Norfolk County 7' towns that are participating in this project include Canton, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Norwood and Westwood.

Results

100 nail salons throughout Norfolk County region 7 towns were visited at least twice by the project's environmental field worker.  They received an initial visit with brochures, and introduction to the project and filled out a pre-survey on their knowledge of chemicals in the environment and protective precautions. The field worker then scheduled follow up visits to test knowledge on the topics once more and also handed out 'tool kits' that included relevant information all in one convenient package.  A smaller version of the 'tool kit' was also given to building inspectors of the Norfolk County 7 towns.  60 people attended the regional conference including nail technicians, students, community members, and health directors from local departments. Gift bags were handed out with safe alternative samples and handouts on 'going green' in the workplace.  Students from Brandeis University and Boston Public Health Commission gave presentations on air quality studies in Boston salons and consequential recommendations.

This page updated Wednesday November 07 2012