Nail polish directly applied by women to their nails could potentially mess with their hormones and cause several problems, a new study revealed.
Researchers from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Duke University found that many bottles of nail polish contain triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a plasticizer mostly used in pieces of furniture which could potentially interfere with a person's hormones and even cause obesity, and reproductive and development problems.
In a study published in the journal Environment International, researchers examined the fingernails of participants 10 to 14 hours after they applied nail polish on it. They found that 26 of the participants acquired TPHP on their nails, and that the level of diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) in their bodies had increased seven times.
"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," said lead researcher and associate professor Heather Stapleton.
The most common users of nail polish are young women and teenage girls who are going through puberty. Researchers are worried that the usage of nail polish could pose a threat to these adolescents' growth and development because the chemical could disrupt the endocrine system.
"It is even more troubling to learn that their bodies absorb this chemical relatively quickly after they apply a coat of polish," explained Dr. Johanna Congleton, co-author of the study and a scientist at EWG.
Data from EWG suggests that over 1,500 nail polish brands contain the potentially toxic chemical. Some of these brands include nail polishes made by Sally Hansen, Wet N Wild, OPI, and many others, the organization said. Most nail polishes have never indicate any TPHP as an ingredient.
Now, EWG is spearheading a petition to stop nail polish companies from using TPHP in their products. In order to protect consumers, the organization is lobbying the Congress to update laws regarding the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.
Another study, which will further examine whether chemicals found in cleaning products and cosmetics could increase a young woman's risk for breast cancer. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Baystate Health and the Pioneer Life Sciences Institute in Springfield were recently given a $3.5-million, five-year federal grant for the study.
Photo : Katie Brady | Flickr
