How does “toxic trio” in nail polish products affect your health??

Many ladies love to visit nail salon or Sephora because they want to accessorize their nails. They apply all kind of different colors, pattern, shiny stickers, and even fake nails on their nails. Nail polish allows the cosmetic industry to make millions of dollars. However, many people might not know what chemicals they put on their nails and might not realize some chemicals are actually harmful to their health.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6369344_remove-fingernail-polish-carpet.html

 There are many chemicals in nail polish and most of them are safe to human. Among these chemicals, three of them are harmful to our health. They are known as the “toxic trio.” They causes many health concerns, especially allergy.

The first toxic chemical is toluene. Toluene is commonly used in painting and nail polish because it speeds up the drying process. However, toluene is a volatile chemical. A volatile chemical is a chemical that has high vapor pressure and evaporates quickly. When toluene evaporates into the air, it causes dizziness and irritated eyes to the person using the nail polish. Moreover, toluene is also a neurotoxin. Neurotoxin is substance that causes dysfunction in nerve cells. Some researchers also suggest that toluene will affect the users’ kidneys, livers, and perhaps reproductive system.

Another toxic chemical to pay attention to is formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a preservative that prevents nail polish to break apart. Similar to toluene, it is also a volatile chemical that may cause dizziness and coughing when the user inhales its fumes. Furthermore, formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. Irritations can also occur when formaldehyde is exposed to skin.

The final chemical of the “toxic trio” is Dibutyl phthalate (DBP). DBP is commonly used in many consumer products such as plastics, paints, and cosmetic products. This chemical gives the nail polish the shiny appearance. When people apply nail polish, some DBP are absorbed through the skin and some are inhaled. Researchers have found that DBP is a carcinogen and is related to birth defects. DBP is also toxic to liver, lungs, kidneys, and reproductive organs. The use of these chemicals are restricted or banned in many countries and regions in the world.

http://www.whirlmagazine.com/2011/10/healthy-choice/

For the customers, the good news is that most nail polish today are free or contain very little of these chemicals. By law, the cosmetic companies have to manufacture safe nail polish and label their products clearly for the consumers. Therefore, for ladies who use nail polish regularly, it is important to read the labels and make sure the products are free of the “toxic trio.  Here is a video about nail polish and toxic trio:

Written by Jeremy Cheng