Using an electrical appliance to heat acetone "would make me kind of nervous," said Lee, whose industry magazine is based in California.
Labels on acetone and nail polish remover bottles state that it is highly flammable. However, "the idea is that a warmer acetone works quicker," Lee said. Placing a bowl of acetone within a container of warm water can help it break down the acrylic nail faster, Lee said. Even body heat speeds the process - the magazine's stylists often cover nails with a cotton ball soaked in acetone and wrap the fingertips in aluminum foil to remove acrylic tips after a photo shoot, the editor said.
Heating the acetone increases the amount of vapors, which can cause dizziness and irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin, depending on the concentration and duration of exposure, Grabau said.
"From my understanding, from what I've seen in other nail salons, it's not generally heated," he said. "To the best of our knowledge, we've never seen it being heated before."
Grabau said that MOSH inspects nail salons when an employee complains but has never found overexposure of air contaminants. More common violations include employers failing to train employees as required about hazards, or concerns about blood-borne pathogens or the absence of personal protective equipment such as gloves.
Long-term exposure to salon chemicals such as acetone has been a concern of environmental groups and advocates for Asian immigrants, who make up a large percentage of nail salon employees. Two federal agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency, have examined the issue.
In Maryland, beauty salons are required to be well-ventilated, and nail technicians must pass a certification test that includes a section on chemical safety, Berman said.
Lee, the Nails editor, said the majority of salons follow sanitation and safety requirements and consumers should use their judgment to determine whether to patronize a business.
"If you feel like they're not doing something right and they're not doing something legitimate, you need to be your own best advocate," she said.
Sun reporter Gus Sentementes contributed to this article.
