Effectiveness of dilution ventilation in mitigating occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the breathing zone of nail technicians: a simulation study

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from nail products pose potential health risks to technicians and clients. The present study investigates the exposure of nail technicians to VOC and assesses the effectiveness of dilution ventilation in mitigating these exposures. A test chamber was configured to simulate a nail salon environment, where three common activities were performed: applying nail polish, removing nail extensions, and nail extension application. A MultiRae Lite gas meter was used to monitor VOC concentrations in the technicians' breathing zones and the ambient environment under both non-ventilated and dilution-ventilated conditions. The average VOC concentrations in the technicians' breathing zones were measured at 8.3 (± 8.576) ppm, 116.2 (± 120.04) ppm, and 29.73 (± 7.876) ppm during nail polish application, nail extension removal, and nail extension application, respectively (n = 30 measured over 15 min). For the same activities, the average ambient VOC concentrations in the non-ventilated chamber were 25.03 (± 13.006) ppm, 192.17 (± 114.900) ppm, and 40.90 (± 30.891) ppm. These concentrations were significantly lowered by dilution ventilation to 0.93 (± 0.179) ppm, 12.6 (± 5.21) ppm, and 2.63 (± 0.812) ppm. For all three activities, a t-test verified a statistically significant drop in VOC concentration with dilution ventilation (p < 0.001). Additionally, the study discovered that VOC emissions could be reduced by over 65% at an air change rate (ACH) of 10 per hour. The results indicate that dilution ventilation can significantly decrease VOC exposure; nonetheless, the study concludes that it is insufficient as the sole control strategy in nail salons because concentrations failed to reach the limit levels, even at the highest tested ACH (100 ACH). This research provides a new scientific perspective on ventilation as a means of controlling occupational exposure to VOC in nail salons.