In one of my previous posts, I outlined the existence and dangers of the myriad of chemicals found in our daily body care products (Skin Deep: The Hidden Dangers of Body Care Products). Everything from shampoos, body washes, face cream to deodorants may contain harmful chemicals that impact our health in negative ways. Unfortunately, this can also extend to the use of nail polish, as described in the Environmental Working Group’s recent article ‘Nailed’. In the article, it describes a study conducted at Duke University showing evidence of an increase in a toxin called Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) in the urine of women who had recently painted their nails. TPHP is a chemical known to disrupt hormones in the body, which can have wide-reaching health impacts.

What is also amazing is how common TPHP is in many brands of nail polish. Of the 3000 nail polishes listed in EWG’s Cosmetic Database, almost half of them contain TPHP. The scary part is that not all the brands have disclosed the presence of TPHP in their ingredients list. The Duke University study also specifically tested 10 nail polish samples for TPHP and found 2 contained the chemical even though it was not listed. In reality, non-disclosure of chemicals may be more prevalent than we think. Educating ourselves on the sources of chemical exposure and searching for safer products is an important step in minimizing toxic effects to our health.

Interested in knowing what nail polish brands are safe? Check out this article – 3 Nail Polish Brands That Won’t Mess With Your Hormones.

~ Dr. Patti Yik

Nailed: Endocrine Disruptor in Nail Polishes gets into Women’s Bodies – http://www.ewg.org/research/nailed/nail-polish-chemical-doubles-furniture-fire-retardant

TPHP: A New Endocrine Disruptor – http://www.ewg.org/research/nailed/tphp-new-endocrine-disruptor