The work of hairdressers includes washing, coloring, bleaching, permanent waving, conditioning, and cutting hair. Hairdressers are subjected to a number of physical and toxicological hazards. The toxicological hazards are those resulting from exposure to a wide range of chemicals that are usually classified active processes. In this study, twenty beauty shops were selected to assess the exposure to indoor air pollutants such as VOCs and particulate matter (PM10) during one month from September 1 to September 30, 2003. Indoor air quality of beauty shops might be worse by vehicle emissions because the beauty shops were generally located near roadways. Personal exposures to VOCs and PM10 were related to indoor concentrations of beauty shops. According to the questionnaire, hairdressers complained of sore throat, eye irritation, and nervousness as physical symptoms. The measured mean concentrations of respiratory particulates were 30.5ng/㎥ in indoor, 30.5ng/㎥in outdoor and 44.0ng/㎥ on personal levels. The personal concentration was found higher than indoor and outdoor concentrations. The heavy metals mean concentrations were shown as indoor (Na>Zn>Cr), outdoor (Cr>Zn>Pb), and personal (Na>Cr>Zn) levels. Conclusively, customers as well as workers in the beauty shops might be highly exposed to air pollutants from indoor and outdoor sources. Therefore, proper management should be taken to improve the indoor air quality in beauty shops.

• Bu Soon Son(Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University) Corresponding Author
• Mi Ra Song(Department of Beauty design, Dongshin University)
• Won Ho Yang(Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu)
• Jong An Park(Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University)