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Discovered in 1964, the tomb of the manicurists Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep from the Fifth Dynasty of Old Kingdom Egypt depicts the two men in intimate poses usually reserved for husband and wife. Initial archaeologies suggested the two men were close friends, but soon the idea of them as twins was being advocated to explain their 'exaggerated affection'. This paper uses recent research on conjugal figuration during the pictorially innovative Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Dynasties and internal evidence from the tomb itself to offer insight into the unique relationship between the two manicurists.

Objective The demand for nail care has increased in Florida and the employment opportunities that result appeal to Vietnamese immigrants. The benefits of working as a manicurist include short-term training and an income higher than most Vietnamese immigrant workers with limited English proficiency. However, exposure to hazardous chemicals is a concern that needs to be addressed among these workers. Methods To determine the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, glasses and fans, 34 personal interviews were conducted in nail salons in Tampa, Florida, USA. Results Manicurists acknowledged the importance of PPE, but only 30 per cent reported the use of a mask. Most others used no protection at all. Conclusion Manicurists face the risk of being exposed to occupational chemicals. Innovative education programmes are needed to change current practices in nail salons.

Manicurist exposure to methyl, ethyl, and isobutyl methacrylate during preparation of artificial fingernails was measured. The 8-hour time-weighted average exposures were 5.3, 7.3, and 1.6 ppm, respectively. The exposures measured during actual intermediate use of the methacrylates were 20.3, 13.4, and 6.2 ppm, respectively. Anecdotal information from manicurists revealed complaints of headache, nausea, respiratory distress, and loss of appetite at these levels. Froines, J.R.; Garabrant, D.H.: Quantitative evaluation of manicurists exposure to methyl, ethyl and isobutyl methacrylate during production of synthetic fingernails.