In the midst of increasing questions over working conditions in nail salons, New York City is launching a pilot program to monitor air quality in 35 of the city's hundreds of salons.

The program comes after a lengthy investigation by the New York Times showed that the city's burgeoning nail industry was largely fueled by immigrant women who labor for pay far below the minimum wage and amidst chemicals that could seriously harm their health.

Among the health problems that the Times expose suggested may be linked to salon conditions: Miscarriages, respiratory issues, and cancers that are linked to chemical exposure.

However, while research has tied the strong chemicals in nail salons to cancer, it is unclear to what extent salon workers are affected by working with them throughout the day.

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By assessing the air quality in various salons, the city is hoping to understand whether some workers are at far greater risk than others.

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“They’re going to use this prototype as a way to determine what nail salon they should patronize,” Letitia James, the public advocate, told the New York Times. “It’s really an environmental justice issue because the vast majority of the workers are immigrants, and oftentimes they’re not empowered and not given the proper information.”

Although the program is being led by the New York City Public Advocate's Office, it is being financed by Pegasus Capital Partners, a major private equity firm. It is also being supported by the Clinton Global Initiative.

No matter what the pilot program reveals about salon air quality, the effect of the awareness might not lead to major reforms in the industry, which has long thumbed its nose at a number of labor regulations.

While the Times investigation spurred political leaders, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to demand greater scrutiny of the industry, the fact that the great majority of the workers are immigrants, many of whom are undocumented and don't speak English, makes it much harder for regulators to hold businesses accountable.

Instant Insights /

New York launches program to monitor air quality in nail salons

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