Quantitative Evaluation of Manicurists Exposure to Methyl, Ethyl and Isobutyl Methacrylate During Production of Synthetic Fingernails

Manicurist exposure to methyl, ethyl, and isobutyl methacrylate during preparation of artificial fingernails was measured. The 8-hour time-weighted average exposures were 5.3, 7.3, and 1.6 ppm, respectively. The exposures measured during actual intermediate use of the methacrylates were 20.3, 13.4, and 6.2 ppm, respectively. Anecdotal information from manicurists revealed complaints of headache, nausea, respiratory distress, and loss of appetite at these levels. Froines, J.R.; Garabrant, D.H.: Quantitative evaluation of manicurists exposure to methyl, ethyl and isobutyl methacrylate during production of synthetic fingernails.