Nail salon technicians reported a significant increased prevalence of work related nasal symptoms. There were elevated levels of work related, self-reported, lower respiratory symptoms (cough and chest tightness), headaches and eye irritation.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) or ethyl methacrylate (EMA)
Very few technicians (5.6%) used MMA at the salon. Just over half (54.3%) of the technicians surveyed were aware of advice or information about using acrylic nail products that contain MMA. These technicians reported it was a harmful substance and that its use was banned in the USA.
Two fifths (42.3%) of technicians in the survey used acrylic nail products that contained EMA, but over a quarter didn’t know whether the products they used contained EMA (26.8%) or MMA (28.2%). All of the technicians who reported using products containing EMA or MMA took steps to prevent themselves from harm. Many of the technicians reported that they used LEV (23.3%), decanted the products into smaller pots (10%) or used gloves and/or masks (13.3%). Two thirds (66.7%) of technicians thought that there were either short term or long term health effects from working with these products.

• Acetone (nail polish remover): headaches; dizziness; and irritated eyes, skin, and throat.
• Acetonitrile (fingernail glue remover): irritated nose and throat; breathing problems; nausea; vomiting; weakness; and exhaustion.
• Butyl acetate (nail polish, nail polish remover): headaches and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), (nail polish): nausea and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. Long-term exposures to high concentrations may cause other serious effects.
• Ethyl acetate (nail polish, nail polish remover, fingernail glue): irritated eyes, stomach, skin, nose, mouth, and throat; high levels can cause fainting.
• Ethyl methacrylate (EMA), (artificial nail liquid): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating. Exposures while pregnant may affect your child.
• Toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate are sometimes referred to in the industry as the "toxic trio". Formaldehyde (nail polish, nail hardener): difficulty breathing, including coughing, asthma-like attacks, and wheezing; allergic reactions; irritated eyes, skin, and throat.
• Formaldehyde can cause cancer.
• Isopropyl acetate (nail polish, nail polish remover): sleepiness, and irritated eyes, nose, and throat.
• Methacrylic acid (nail primer): skin burns and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. At higher concentrations, this chemical can cause difficulty breathing.
• Methyl methacrylate (MMA), (artificial nail products, though banned for use in many countries): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating; loss of smell.
• Quaternary ammonium compounds (disinfectants): irritated skin and nose and may cause asthma.
• Toluene (nail polish, fingernail glue): Headaches, Dizziness, and Numbness; irritated eyes, nose, throat, and lungs; damage to liver and kidneys; and harm to unborn children during pregnancy.