Why Does Some Fingernail Polish Stink?
Have you ever considered that anything you put on your skin has the ability to be absorbed into your blood stream? This includes nail polish. Even though there is a fingernail between the polish and the skin, our nails are porous and the chemicals in the fingernail polish can go right through and end up in your blood stream! In addition, those noxious odors; our lungs are absorbing them like a sponge! Not good!
Formaldehyde, Toluene, and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Xylene and plasticizers. These are toxins that are well documented to harm our bodies! These are the worst of the worst, but there's more! This list of chemicals is not complete, there are others.
This is some of the health consequences caused by these chemicals, just some...
Cancer
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Non-reproductive organ system toxicity
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
Persistence and bioaccumulation
A PAPER published in June of 2022 stated “Inhalation exposure, at high levels, of dibutyl phthalate may include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. It may cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, vomiting, dizziness, and headache. Long-term exposures may cause liver and kidney damage. Dibutyl phthalate may harm the developing fetus and the male testes.”
I would say this is why fingernail polish can stink. Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market, even though they may contain chemicals that harm you. Chemicals that can give you disease, chemicals that can alter your reproductive health!
And, what about when you have to remove it? Please, use acetone free polish remover.
There has been companies that have eliminated their use of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP from their formulas, however, not necessarily harmless as they may still contain plasticizers. You will have to use due diligence in reading the labels and looking into their formula ingredients.
Just recently, news has come out regarding SNS Nails dip powder. There’s reason to believe that SNS Nails’ dip powder products, which are advertised as “natural,” “healthy,” and “non-toxic,” contain toxic chemicals. Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether a class action can be filed against SNS Nails over possible false advertising.
There are some low hazard brands
At the same time, however, there are companies producing low hazard fingernail polishes! These companies should be commended, because they care and have proven it by omitting many of the chemicals that are detrimental to our health.
Polishing your fingernails can be fun! It can be a fun way to express yourself or dress up your outfit! Below is a brand example of fingernail polish that has low toxicity and that you might like to try! I will keep you updated on more brands in the future. So, you can still polish your fingernails and your toenails, just please, consider your health when you do.
Ella Mila Professional is another brand that is low in toxicity.
Ogee has clean cosmetics and also fingernail polish plus you can get 10% off of your first order!
References
[1] OSHA, OSHA Infosheet. Available online: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3646.pdf. Accessed April 21, 2022.
[2] ASTDR, Toxicological Profile for Toluene, September 2000. Available online: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp56.pdf. Accessed April 21, 2022.
[3] EWG, Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, Available Online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/. Accessed April 21, 2022.
[4] S. Kang, Neurobehavioral performance in workers exposed to toluene, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, vol. 19 (3), pp. 645-50, May 2005.
[5] P. Berenguer, Behavioral and neurochemical effects induced by subchronic exposure to 40 ppm toluene in rats, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, vol. 74 (4), pp. 997-1003, Mar 2003.
[6] ASTDR, ASTDR-Toluene, February 2001. Available Online: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hec/csem/toluene/docs/toluene.pdf. Accessed April 21, 2022.
[7] CDC, Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, 2009. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/FourthReport.pdf. Accessed April 21, 2022.
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