Workplace chemical exposures and lung health in hairdressers
The MELENA Study: Measurement of Exposures, Lung hEalth, and functioN in hAirdressers
This project looks at how common salon chemicals affect breathing and lung function in adult hairdressers, especially Black and Latina workers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292393 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be asked about your work and respiratory symptoms and to provide simple lung tests and biological samples. Researchers will measure chemical exposures in the salon air and in urine or other samples to look for markers of exposure and oxidative stress. The team will compare exposure levels with breathing tests and symptom reports to see if higher exposures link with worse airway health. The project focuses on adult hairdressers and aims to characterize real-world exposures in salons where people spend their workday.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult salon workers aged 21 or older who perform hair treatments regularly and are willing to provide samples and complete lung tests and surveys.
Not a fit: People who do not work in salons, are under 21, or are seeking immediate therapy for an advanced lung condition may not get direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to safer salon practices, early detection, and policies that protect hairdressers' lung health.
How similar studies have performed: Limited animal and small human studies suggest phthalates and VOCs can harm airways, but comprehensive exposure and lung-health studies in U.S. hairdressers are novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quiros-Alcala, Lesliam — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Quiros-Alcala, Lesliam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.