“Nontoxic” nail polishes still contain toxic chemicals, despite claims

A recent study published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene found that nail polishes advertised as “nontoxic” and “clean” contain high concentrations of toxic chemicals, despite manufacturers’ claims that those chemicals are not included.

In short:

• All 19 of the “nontoxic” polishes studied contained the carcinogens formaldehyde and benzene, as well as toluene, which is linked to reproductive harm.
• Nearly half of the “nontoxic” polishes contained higher amounts of toluene than the standard polish.
• While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cosmetics, it does not enforce any definition for beauty products advertised as “clean” and does not require nail polishes used at salons to list their ingredients.

Key quote:

“Due to these loose regulatory constraints, uncertainties exist as to the exact chemical composition of many [beauty] products, making it difficult to assess exposures and subsequent risk to workers.”

Why this matters:

Many beauty and personal care products, including nail products, contain mixtures of dozens of synthetic chemicals. Many of these chemicals have been linked to harmful health effects and adverse reproductive outcomes, while others have not been thoroughly studied, leaving their potential risks poorly understood. Many salons are switching to products advertised as “clean” or “green,” but the FDA does not require manufacturers to complete specific tests that demonstrate beauty products’ safety before marketing them as such. The authors of this study call for increased transparency in labeling chemical ingredients and a standardization of marketing requirements that would enable salon owners and consumers to make more informed decisions about the products they use.

Related EHN coverage:

• Marissa Chan on solutions to harmful beauty products
• For thousands of Americans, unhealthy chemical exposures at work are a needless reality
• EHN reporter and senior editor Kristina Marusic discusses toxic chemicals in personal care products on the Art Beauty podcast

More resources:

• Beauty + Justice, a limited series podcast hosted by Marissa Chan, features researchers, companies and organizations working toward a toxics-free future for beauty products.
• Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep, a guide to safer personal care products.
• Webinar recording: Personal Care Product Use & Chemical Exposure among Black, Latina & Vietnamese Women in California: Findings from the CAPABLE Project, hosted by the Collaborative for Health and Environment