Evaluar la exposición a formaldehído en estilistas de salones de belleza en Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the largest per-capita consumer of cosmetic products in the Central American region. Hair straightening procedures using products that contain formaldehyde pose a significant toxicological risk to hairdressers in beauty salons, as this chemical substance has been associated with allergic and irritant reactions to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have classified formaldehyde as a confirmed human carcinogen, based on evidence that it has the potential to cause cancer in the respiratory and hematologic systems, such as sinus or nasopharyngeal cancer and myeloid leukemia. Previous studies conducted with stylists using hair straightening products have found exposures to formaldehyde that exceed established threshold limit values, even when using products labeled as “formaldehyde-free.” At the national level, no information was found regarding occupational exposure assessments to formaldehyde in beauty salons. This study aims to generate information related to formaldehyde exposure levels in a sample of hairdressers during hair straightening procedures and to identify sociodemographic, occupational, and environmental factors that may be influencing these exposures

Evaluar la exposición a formaldehído en estilistas de salones de belleza en Costa Rica

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