Occupational Exposures and Determinants of Ultrafine Particle Concentrations During Laser Hair Removal Procedures

Details

• Journal Article:
  Environ Health
• Personal Author:
  Eshleman, Emily J. ; LeBlanc, Mallory ; Rokoff, Lisa B. ; Xu, Yinyin ; Hu, Rui ; Lee, Kachiu ; Chuang, Gary S. ; Adamkiewicz, Gary ; Hart, Jaime E.
• Description:
  Background
  
  Occupational exposures to ultrafine particles in the plume generated during laser hair removal procedures, the most commonly performed light based cosmetic procedure, have not been thoroughly characterized. Acute and chronic exposures to ambient ultrafine particles have been associated with a number of negative respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to measure airborne concentrations of particles in a diameter size range of 10 nm to 1 μm in procedure rooms during laser hair removal procedures.
  
  Methods
  
  TSI Model 3007 Condensation Particle Counters were used to quantify the particle count concentrations in the waiting and procedure rooms of a dermatology office. Particle concentrations were sampled before, during, and after laser hair removal procedures, and characteristics of each procedure were noted by the performing dermatologist.
  
  Results
  
  Twelve procedures were sampled over 4 days. Mean ultrafine particle concentrations in the waiting and procedure rooms were 14,957.4 particles/cm3 and 22,916.8 particles/cm3 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Compared to background ultrafine particle concentrations before the procedure, the mean concentration in the procedure room was 2.89 times greater during the procedure (p = 0.009) and 2.09 times greater after the procedure (p = 0.007). Duration of procedure (p = 0.006), body part (p = 0.013), and the use of pre-laser lotion/type of laser (p = 0.039), were the most important predictors of ultrafine particle concentrations. Use of a smoke evacuator (a recommended form of local exhaust ventilation) positioned at 30.5 cm from the source, as opposed to the recommended 1–2 in., lowered particle concentrations, but was not a statistically significant predictor (p = 0.49).
  
  Conclusions
  
  Laser hair removal procedures can generate high exposures to ultrafine particles for dermatologists and other individuals performing laser hair removal, with exposure varying based on multiple determinants.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Environmental Monitoring Hair Removal Lasers Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Laser; Ultrafine Particles; Surgical Plume; Laser Hair Removal; Occupational Exposures Ultrafine Particles; Hair Analysis; Lasers; Surgery; Occupational Exposure; Airborne Particles; Cosmetics Workers; Cosmetics; Clinical Techniques; Medical Equipment; Respiratory Irritants; Cardiovascular Function; Cardiovascular System Disorders; Respiratory Function; Air Contaminants; Particle Size; Particle Counters; Dermatology; Nanoparticles; Sampling; Smoke Control;
• Source:
  Environ Health. 16.
• Pubmed ID:
  28356116
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5372340
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  P30 ES000002/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; T42 OH008416/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  7 pdf pages
• Volume:
  16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049600
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3d2f72911fd68765b325b004c730d51c7f924a22e72ba2db980a7ed29facf7901b42eb6e00dd0b18f3ace5d3670257ef946901058000cda5bba6f9425137c48e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/45202/cdc_45202_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 463.79 KB ]