Informed Beauty: The Danger of Nail Salons
One of our earliest pieces that focuses on health and safety for Californians stems from hazardous working conditions by low-income workers of color. Our mission and goal with this series was to raise awareness about the injustices and harm suffered by American workers and their families because of outdated, ineffectual worker protection laws. We focused on the Nail Salon Recognition Program in the city and county of San Francisco where approximately 1,800 nail technicians—most of whom are immigrant women of child-bearing age—are exposed to three bad actor chemicals every day at work. Studies have linked certain chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate to health effects that include cancer, asthma, and reproductive harm. The recognition program would encourage healthier nail salons and stimulate the development of less toxic nail polishes.
Brave New Films used innovative new media to distribute original production and content that raised awareness through grassroots efforts. We amplified and lifted up several voices from within the nail salon industry that exposed how employees are taken advantage of and exposed to unhealthy and dangerous working conditions.
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