Hairdressers

Surprisingly, women who have worked as hairdressers, beauticians hair stylists, hair technicians, or cosmetologists, have a high rate of asbestos-caused diseases, just like the men have who have held jobs in construction or manufacturing industries. Those 800,000 professionals, especially those in the business during the last few decades, were exposed to asbestos-the same asbestos used for its heat insulating properties-but from the asbestos in their hairdryers. Asbestos was regularly included as an insulator in the popular hood-type hair dryers found in every beauty shop of the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's, as well as the newer hand-held ones versions. Actually, most hairdryer manufacturers voluntarily stopped using asbestos in their models prior to the mid 1980's, but it still is not legally banned. This is despite the United States Consumer Protection Commission report which confirmed an independent study proving that hair dryer asbestos fibers created substantial health risks and problems.

Asbestos Exposure

While the occupation of hairdresser may be less risky than those who worked directly with asbestos, it was still dangerous because asbestos was utilized in almost hairdryer prior to 1980 to protect against, and regulate, heat and electricity. Regardless of how clean or well-ventilated a hair salon area may be, asbestos could have affected the operator in one of two ways: A hand held hair dryer could force toxic asbestos fibers into a hairdresser's respiratory systems through increased air flow close to her face. Or, as asbestos linings inside bonnet dryers' hoods eventually crumbled, asbestos dust could have seeped into the workplace and into the operator's lungs or stomach. However, on November 2, 1979, a newspaper account from Washington, D.C. stated that an independent analysis confirmed that asbestos fibers emitted from hair dryers were comparable to or greater than other serious levels of asbestos in the general environment. (Comparisons included construction sites and school buildings). The tests were done on 30 different hairdryers, completed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It was considered the most comprehensive research on asbestos in a consumer product to date, although conditions and analytical procedures were feared to be an underestimation of actual asbestos fiber release. Sampling showed that even at that, there were "considerable quantities" released into the air in the immediate environment where hairdryers were used. In fact, after 8 years of testing asbestos contamination, the concentrations of asbestos in areas of hair dryer use exceeded the previously highest findings. These results were enough to require elimination of asbestos in hairdryers, in view of the large number of workers in danger of exposure. This data became scientific foundation for the Consumer Protection Commission's stance regarding asbestos regulation in other consumer products.

This decision, and negotiations between the CPS and almost 40 hairdryer manufacturers, resulted in the cessation of the production and distribution of asbestos-containing hand-held hairdryers. The list of Hairdryers Recalled in 1979 is extensive, and includes 90% of the manufacturers at that time: Andis, Bonat Inc., Clairol, Conair Corporation, Dominion Division of Scovill Manufacturing, General Electric Company, The Gillette Company, Hamilton Beach Division of Scovill Manufacturing, J.C. Penney, Korvette, Montgomery Ward & Company, Norelco, North American Philips Corporation, Presto, Schick, Inc., Sears, Roebuck & CO., Sperry Rand Corp. (Remington),and Sunbeam Corporation.

What Hairdressers Should Know

Asbestos is comprised of minute particles that are usually sealed, or embedded in a solid mass when used as insulation. Yet, after time, fibers may break away and become airborne, through the hair dryer vents, and into the surrounding environment. It is known that the inhalation or swallowing of this dust results in their becoming embedded in tissues of lungs, lung linings, chest cavities, or stomachs, with little or no chance of release. The asbestos fibers remain there for decades, and their presence, in some people, becomes cause for a life threatening disease called asbestosis, or carcinogenic conditions of lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, or mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is cancer of the chest cavity lining and lung membranes. Like most asbestos-related diseases, it has a latency period of up to 40 years, during which time the victim feels fine. Then, at some point, he or she will notice periods of shortness of breath, usually during exercise. The condition deteriorates until the person can't catch their breath even at rest, and breathing is accompanied with severe chest pains. Unfortunately, by this time, patients can't rely on surgery; only chemotherapy and radiation may slow the progress of mesothelioma. Sadly, the majority of victims don't live for more than 24 months after diagnosis. It is for this reason that individuals who worked in occupations housed in hair salons (shampoo assistants, nail cosmetologists, and especially hair dressers) who experience unusual physical symptoms in their lungs or stomach should seek professional legal and medical help as soon as possible. There have been numerous recorded cases of hairdressers dying of mesothelioma before age 60 within the last 30 years, and more are expected within the next decade.

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