The world's first official study of manicure dust was initiated by SHEMAX, a Ukrainian manufacturer of professional equipment for the beauty industry.
To confirm the problem on a scientific level, the company turned to Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. On April 22, 2021, scientists from the university conducted a laboratory analysis of manicure dust: they determined the shape and size of the particles, and also studied how the dust moves and lingers in the air during the working day.
The study confirmed that manicure dust is a hazardous occupational factor. When working with a nail file or an e-file (electric nail drill), a large number of microparticles are formed, which can remain in the air for a long time and enter the respiratory tract. The most hazardous are particles smaller than 5 microns — they are the ones that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause chronic occupational diseases.
Some of the dust settles on the skin, mucous membranes, and in the eyes, irritating them and creating the prerequisites for long-term inflammatory processes. The situation is worsened by the fact that the dust often contains residues of chemical components of materials, which can increase the negative impact on the nail technician’s health.