What fills my brain these days? I first began over 320 blogs ago, and still continue to craft posts to improve and advance my writing. But a funny thing happened on the way to…unscheduled retirement. An unexpected layoff, change of administration, fear about human rights and elimination of science, and recognition of my own privilege as a white American. I watch my adult kids worry about their futures and those of their children; or their questioning if they should even have them. I hear about friends and community members who worry about their own safety. And, I see the foundations for what I have dedicated forty years of my life professionally beginning to crash and burn. Yep, if my rantings bother you, feel free to –as they say– scroll on by. (You can still read my books:))
I too thought I would try to share some hard to find resources. Maybe nail and hair salon safety and health is not something at the top of our mind at the moment, but I can promise you it is impacting somebody, somewhere. For after all, from 2008-2015, these topics did take up a bit of my work time and brainpower. Writing this blog was triggered by my learning about my colleague Mike soon to present on New York nail salons at the upcoming American Industrial Hygiene Conference. I thought – hey, maybe some of this might be helpful?
One of the most powerful tools we have in science (kind of like in everything else) is our history: research, education and outreach previously shared. It’s a waste of money and good will to not use, archive and share all that we have gathered. (Nope, not going to touch vaccines here, but I’m sure you get my drift.) As thousands of federal workers are laid off, grants paused or dropped, and websites deleted – we risk losing everything many of us have spent our lives working for, while at the same time we too risk losing our smartest and brightest as they seek opportunities abroad. I honor all who are actively working to save what we know or still need to learn.
Hair Products
First, catch up on the issue of formaldehyde in hair products. If you don’t know a bit of the history, start here with my prior blog (Hair and formaldehyde, power and health) or check out this poster I presented long ago at the American Industrial Hygiene Association Conference.
I’ve told folks that this was certainly the highest profile project I worked on during my career.Some details can be found in a blog I wrote for NIOSH and linked here but I’ve noticed the dozens of comments have been deleted: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2012/02/10/hair-smoothers/
“When I got home and began looking online, I learned that of course this action is because the FDA will finally ban this chemical use for all hair products. Yes, it might actually be laid to rest. Individual state legislation has helped by banning forms of formaldehyde in personal care products. And yes, the FDA was slow in coming; I’m pretty certain the product was banned not just in EU countries but in Brazil way back as this event spurred in Portland. The FDA change was supposed to happen in October of this year, but has been delayed to early 2025. And yet, this communication shared with me today gives me hope that it will happen. Finally.”
Well, guess what? Searching online today I learned: “The proposed ban has been paused, and the FDA’s action is currently on hold. The pause is attributed to a change in administration and a new executive order.” (Several states, and other countries have banned these products.) Yes, rulemaking takes a long time and the slow process can be blamed on many administrations or structures. Yet, worse is the worry now that any intention to change is disappearing.
Nail Salons
I was grateful over a decade ago to help create the Oregon Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative. Our partners included OHSU (CROET/ Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences), Oregon OSHA, OPAL, Zero Waste Alliance, Oregon Health Authority, Asian Health & Family Services, among others. All these years later I firmly believe collaboration with other organizations is the only way to get good work done. Unfortunately, it is not always lasting. What we did know back then was that many nail salons were unprepared to best protect their workforce from exposure to toxic chemicals. Often it was only upscale salons that had invested in ventilation equipment or the more expensive safer nail products. In Oregon we recognized that many of the nail salon workers were Vietnamese, some speaking English as a second language and not always fluently. We did some great work and I pat us on the back now, even as I worry about the loss of knowledge and education gained at the time. I do know we found it important to collaborate with those further ahead on education and knowledge journey in California and Boston. Years ago I maintained a site that listed many of these good resources. Since I don’t have access to that now, for Mike’s benefit, I thought I’d quickly share what I do know and can easily find, and until a better compilation exists. Do you have helpful updated websites to suggest on the topic? Feel free to share in the comments.
Sharing Vietnamese language tips and resources long ago at Asian Health & Service Center, Portland OR.
And now? Hmm. More writing? Letters to congress about protecting NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health)? Protest? Play with my grandkid? Breathe? Remind myself of community? Walk? Yep…all of that. And then repeat.
Thanks for the work you did on these products and for keeping awareness in the ways that you can. Even in the best of times, it seems to take forever for the government to take action to protect us…and these are the worst of times. Keep talking about it!
Dede's Books and blog 
Thanks for the work you did on these products and for keeping awareness in the ways that you can. Even in the best of times, it seems to take forever for the government to take action to protect us…and these are the worst of times. Keep talking about it!
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