California Study Finds ‘Toxic Trio’ in Nail Polishes

Formaldehyde is back in the news. This time, the Jekyll-and-Hyde substance has brought along company, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). 

The three hazardous chemicals make up the toxic trio that more and more clients and salon workers—especially professional cosmetologists, such as those who have, say, a Kentucky Cosmetology CE or a Wisconsin Cosmetology CE, who are knowledgeable about harmful substances found in the salon—are railing against today. 

In a recent random sampling, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) discovered that of 12 nail products that claimed to be free of toluene, 10 in fact were not. Four of the products actually had dangerously high levels of the chemical.

The report also found that five of seven products that claimed to be "free of the toxic three" in reality contained at least one of the chemicals in significant amounts.

"We care about those things because those are hazardous chemicals that can cause harm to people,” said Karl Palmer with the DTSC. “Simply, they cause reproductive toxicity. They cause harm to women who might be pregnant, and over the long term and with enough exposure, they're just bad for you."

The mislabeled nail products, according to the report, can potentially harm thousands of workers and their customers in more than 48,000 nail salons in California.

The agency clarified that the presence of the toxic trio in nail products is legal, but only if properly indicated on the labels. False claims, however, may violate a state law that mandates disclosure of harmful chemicals in consumer products. 

Cosmetologycampus.com, 360training.com’s portal for cosmetologists, offers a fully online cosmetology CE program (leading to a cosmetology license) that provides salon workers updated information on health risks, such as those posed by certain chemicals in nail products.