Manicurists since long have been thinking whether the chemicals they use on the daily basis are causing any harm. Now the New York City public advocate’s office and backed by the Clinton Global Initiative has introduced a new pilot program to ensure the chemicals do not cause any harm.

As part of the program, several dozens of desk lamps will be fitted with air quality sensors in nail salons across the city next year. These sensors will help provide information to health officials, customers, salon managers and the workers themselves about whether chemical levels in the air are unsafe.
Tongjing Zhang, who opened Bling Bling Nail Salon in Crown Heights, Brooklyn a few months ago, said in a statement that she was aware that there would be stress running the salon. But she said she didn’t expect stress coming from government pressure.

The program is so far the latest in a series of initiatives by the city and state to protect nail salon workers from dangerous work conditions and labor abuses in the wake of a two-part investigation of the industry by The New York Times.

Medical research has also linked the chemicals used in nail products with serious health issues. But very less is known about the extent to which manicurists are actually at risk.

Letitia James, the public advocate, said, “It’s really an environmental justice issue because the vast majority of the workers are immigrants, and oftentimes they’re not empowered and not given the proper information”.

The public advocate’s office said sensor chips embedded in small lamps will measure certain organic compounds in the air.

“It will really allow users to have the information to make health choices about where they choose to get their nails done, and where to push for better air quality and ventilation systems,” said Mr. Zaharoff, of Pegasus, which focuses on resource sustainability and is investing about $23,000 in the pilot program.