Nail Salon Lawsuit

Manicurists and nail salon technicians who breathe toxic chemicals from polishes and nail products can potentially develop cancer, lung disease, allergic reactions, or have children with birth defects.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Nail Salon induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

What is the problem?

The same chemicals that make fake nails look great are often extremely toxic for salon workers to breathe. The fumes from nail polishes, glues, removers, solvents, and even dust from filing down acrylic nails can cause major health problems.

Toxic Chemical Exposure in Nail Salons

Women who get their nails done at a salon are not at risk of health problems. However, salon workers are at risk — they spend 8-12 hours a day, 6 days a week in poorly-ventilated shops, working just a few inches from a customers’ nails, and rarely using gloves or masks.

What Are the Most Common Health Problems?

In 2011, a study of Vietnamese nail salon workers in California found that 31% reported suffering from headaches, irritations, nausea, or breathing problems. Furthermore, 26% reported irritations of the nose, throat, lungs, skin, or eyes.

Health Risks of Working in a Nail Salon

• Cancer
• Leukemia or lymphoma
• Lung disease
• Cough, wheezing, or asthma
• Skin rashes
• Infertility or miscarriage
• Birth defects or low IQ
• Irritation (skin, eyes, throat, nose, mouth, etc.)
• Liver or kidney disease
• Vision loss
• Memory loss
• Brain damage

Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers

In 2015, the New York Times published an investigative report on the health problems faced by thousands of manicurists and nail salon technicians. Dr. Charles Hwu said nail salon workers often have a particular set of health problems that resemble cigarette smokers:

“They come in usually with breathing problems, some symptoms similar to an allergy, and also asthma symptoms — they cannot breathe. Judging from the symptoms with these women, it seems that they are either smokers, secondhand smokers or asthma patients, but they are none of the above. They work for nail salons”

List of Hazardous Chemicals in Nail Salon Products

• Acetone — Nail polish remover — Headaches, dizziness, irritation (eyes, skin, throat)
• Acetonitrile — Fingernail glue remover — Irritation (nose and throat), breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, weakness, exhaustion
• Butyl acetate — Nail polish and polish remover — Headaches, irritation (eyes, skin, nose, mouth, throat)
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) — Nail polish — Nausea, irritation (eyes, skin, mouth, throat). Long-term exposures linked to miscarriage, birth defects, and developmental delays in children.
• Ethyl methacrylate (EMA) — Artificial nail liquid — Asthma, irritation (eyes, skin, nose, and mouth), problems concentration. Exposure in pregnancy may cause birth defects.
• Formaldehyde — Nail polish and polish remover — Cancer, breathing problems, coughing, asthma-like attacks, wheezing, allergic reactions, irritation (eyes, skin throat).
• Isopropyl acetate — Nail polish and polish remover — Sleepiness, irritation (eyes, nose, throat)
• Methacrylic acid — Nail primer — Skin burns, irritation (eyes, skin, nose, mouth, throat), breathing problems.
• Methyl methacrylate (MMA) — Artificial nails — Asthma, irritation (eyes, skin, nose, mouth), problems concentrating, loss of smell.
• Quaternary ammonium disinfectants — Irritation (skin and nose), asthma.
• Toulene — Nail polish, fingernail glue — Dry or cracked skin, headaches, dizziness, numbness, irritation (eyes, nose, throat, lungs), damage to liver or kidneys, and birth defects in children who are exposed during pregnancy.

Do I have a Nail Salon Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Nail Salon induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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