By Daniel Larios
Special to the Lookout

March 4, 2014 -- Santa Monica on Monday became the first city in Southern California to recognize local nail salons for their efforts to protect the health of consumers, employees and the environment.

The City's Office of Sustainability and the Environment and the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative (CHNSC) honored Cute Nails, Nancy's Nails, Santa Monica Beach Nail Spa and Tracy's Nail Spa on Monday morning for their sustainable business practices.

Mayor Pam O’Connor and Mayor Pro Tempore Terry O’Day presented the healthy nail salons with official city commendations.

“We are excited to be working with the CHNSC to ensure that businesses provide safe services and products to Santa Monica residents,” said Andrew Basmajian, Communications Coordinator for the City's Office of Sustainability.

The push to make Santa Monica nail salons more sustainable began last July, when the City partnered with the CHNSC to announce the implementation of a Healthy Nail Salon Program. 

The program requires that salons go through a checklist of safety measures in order to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, such as solvents, glues, polishes and other beauty care products. 

“The program is really health driven,” said Karl Bruskotter, Environmental Analyst for the City’s of Sustainability. “There’s certain chemicals that are found in the nail polishes, the nail polish thinners and nail polish removers that are really toxic.”

In particular, the three major chemicals -- Formaldehyde, Toluene and Dibutyl phthalate -- contain a number of chemicals known or are suspected to cause cancer, allergies and respiratory, neurological and reproductive harm.

“While health impacts such as rashes, headaches, dizziness and respiratory problems have been well-documented in salons, little research has been conducted on the long-term, chronic health impacts resulting from workplace exposures,” said a spokesperson from the CHNSC. 

“Stories from workers of adverse reproductive outcomes, including spontaneous abortions, preterm births and low-birth weight, in addition to asthma and cancer, are often not reported to health authorities due to health access, language and socio-cultural barriers.”

Since the announcement of the program, the four Santa Monica nail salons have worked to meet the standards set out by the program, with at least one more salon currently undergoing the process. 

This includes the use of gloves by all nail technicians, the installation of localized ventilation, hours of training for all employees and the use of safer nail products.

“There's a big focus on credibility,” said Bruskotter. “There are products out there that are marketed in a certain way called 'Greenwashing,' where the products are falsely sold as safe or environmentally friendly.  We're working with businesses to ensure that they don't fall victim to false advertising.

“The program is really about getting safer nail care products into the nail salons,” he added.  “Some employees work six days a week and are around toxic chemicals all that time.”

This voluntary program is available to all of the approximately 30 nail salons across the city. Santa Monica becomes the first city in Southern California to officially recognize healthy nail salons. 

They join the City/County of San Francisco and Alameda County in the growing movement to use recognition programs to promote healthier and safer nail salon environments for workers, owners, and consumers.

This program is not only good for the health of consumers and employees, but it is also good for the businesses that are involved, City officials said.

The CHNSC surveyed hundreds of consumers at the Third Street Promenade and found that almost 80 percent of those questioned support a city program that calls on nail salons to use less toxic products, according to City officials.  The same survey found that 95 percent would be more likely to go to a less toxic salon.