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Nail polish is a fun, harmless way for people of all ages to express themselves, right?
Well, it looks like it may be more harmless than we think.
A new study done by Duke University and the Environmental Working Group found that triphenyl phosphate, a toxic chemical, is used in many commercially sold nail polishes.
This chemical is used to manufacture plastic, and is also used as a fire retardant for foam furniture. The chemical is believed to disrupt the endocrine system.
The study tested ten nail polishes for TPHP. It was found in eight of the samples. Then they looked at 26 volunteers who had their urine samples tested first before painting their nails, and then six hours after.
DPHP (diephenyl phosphate), a chemical the body produces when it comes into contact with TPHP, was found in all 26 participants, and increased sevenfold ten to fourteen hours after painting their nails.
Dr. Heather Stapleton, principal investigator, said: “It is possible that TPHP is now being used in nail polish as a replacement for phthalates, which also have endocrine-disrupting properties and are toxic to the reproductive system.
“However, it’s not clear that TPHP is the better alternative. There is growing evidence suggesting that TPHP may affect hormone regulation, metabolism, reproduction, and development.”
“It is very troubling that nail polish being marketed to women and teenage girls contains a suspected endocrine disruptor. It is even more troubling to learn that their bodies absorb this chemical relatively quickly after they apply a coat of polish,” said Dr. Johanna Congleton, co-author of the study.
While study authors focused on nail polish for this study, TPHP and similar chemicals have been suspected of being used in other day-to-day products, like perfumes, hair spray, and even hand soap.
