Nail polish has a very specific chemical smell that most people are used to and do not think much about. But that smell is essentially the product telling you it is off-gassing solvents into the air you are breathing. The chemicals responsible are part of what is called the "toxic trio": toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).
Toluene is a solvent that helps nail polish go on smoothly. It is also used in paint thinners and gasoline. Inhalation of toluene is linked to headaches, dizziness, and at high levels, neurological damage. Formaldehyde is used in nail hardeners and some polishes to help the product cross-link and harden. It is a known human carcinogen. Dibutyl phthalate is a plasticizer that helps nail polish stay flexible. Phthalates as a class are endocrine disruptors.
The nail salon worker health issue is significant. Salon workers are in enclosed spaces, often with poor ventilation, applying these products to multiple clients every single day. Research has found elevated rates of certain cancers, reproductive issues, and respiratory conditions among nail salon workers. This is also an environmental justice issue, as nail salon workers are disproportionately Vietnamese immigrant women.
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