Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a Project Grant of $796,093 on May 1, 2026, under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113) to conduct research examining occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and reproductive health outcomes among hairstylists. The research will be conducted in Baltimore, Maryland through April 30, 2031. This project addresses a significant public health gap by investigating how chronic workplace exposure to EDCs in hair care products—such as phthalates and volatile organic compounds—affects reproductive health in a vulnerable population of over 700,000 U.S. hairstylists, predominantly low-income women of color.

The primary deliverables include epidemiological and mechanistic research studies characterizing EDC exposures in salon workers, particularly in establishments serving women of color, coupled with an assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with these exposures. The project leverages established community partnerships with salon owners, stylists, and nonprofit organizations to conduct pilot studies and develop evidence-based intervention strategies to reduce exposure burden and mitigate reproductive health risks. This research directly supports NIEHS's mission to translate environmental health knowledge into strategies that reduce disease burden and promote health across diverse populations.