Hang Nguyen
Nail polish is a common worldwide beauty product nowadays, especially to females and young generation. According to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., the global nail polish market is forecast to reach USD 15.55 billion by 2024, which makes nail polish industry a potentially big industry in the future. Nail polish consisting of enamel/varnish/lacquer is going to be the fastest growing colour cosmetics segment of development of innovative textures and effects. The growing number of professional nail salons, new products and collaborations between manufactures and salons prove. (Nail polish market size… 2017.) However, even considered as a highly beneficial industry, nail polish industry has received negative and positive reviews from users, health experts and scientists in several fields (Turner 2016). Among these, a list of harmful chemicals can be found, especially the ‘toxic trio’ including toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde (Quach 2015). Formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable and strong odour gas at room temperature. It is commonly found in building materials, household products, preservatives to fertilizers and nail polish products. It is also a by-product of natural processes and combustion such as cigarette smoke and emissions from fuel burning. (Facts about Formaldehyde.) In outdoor air, levels of formaldehyde are below 0.001 mg/for remote areas and below 0.02 mg/ for urban areas. Meanwhile, in indoor air, the figure for formaldehyde fluctuates from 0.02 to 0.06 mg/. (IARC Monographs volume 88 2006.) When the amount formaldehyde present in air exceeds 0.1 ppm, human beings may suffer from adverse effects including watery eyes, burning sensation in eyes, nose, throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea and skin irritation. Although the acute effects of Formaldehyde are widely accessed, there is not much information about its chronic effects. Laboratory studies in 1980 showed that exposure to Formaldehyde can lead to nasal cancer in rats, which raised the question of it also resulting in cancer in humans. (Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk.) According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans after studying the death of seven case-control studies of industrial workers in USA. The organization also found the association between exposure to formaldehyde and the risk of sinonasal cancer after 12 case-control studies. Many studies by this organization also found the link between exposure to formaldehyde and cancers at many parts of the body including lung and brain. (IARC Monographs volume 88 2006.) According to National Toxicology Program, formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen (Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk). In cosmetics industry, it is rather commonly used in water solution form called formalin and methylene glycol than its pure form as a gas (Nail Care Products). Formaldehyde is released in insignificant amounts over a period to preserve the products and expand their usage span with the help of preservatives. Formaldehyde can be found in nail polishes, nail hardeners, eyelash glues, hair gels, makeup, shampoos, lotions and so on. When it comes to nail polishes, the chemical is not used for preservation, but also used as coats to nail and strengthen the surface of brittle or cracked nails. (Mejia 2011.) According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), many nail products that contain harmful ingredients are still on market because these chemicals are toxic when swallowed but not considered as toxic when put on nails. The FDA accepts the level of formaldehyde under 5% in nail polish products (Mejia 2011). In addition to Formaldehyde, the other two chemicals form the ‘toxic trio’, which poses serious health impact on human being, especially on salon workers (Quach 2015):
References: Dibutyl Phthalate. Fact Online Sheet. U.S National Library of Medicine. 05.12.2017 Tampere, Finland. https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+922 Formadehyde and Cancer Risk. Fact Online Sheet. National Cancer Institute. 05.12.2017 Tampere, Finland. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-fact-sheet Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol and 1-tert-Butoxypropan-2-ol. 2006. Monographs Online, volume 88, Formaldehyde, chapter 5. International Agency for Research on Cancer. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol88/mono88-6E.pdf Gerea, A. Last updated on 03.05.2016. How to see if nail polish is toxic. ZME Science. Read on 05.12.2017. https://www.zmescience.com/science/domestic-science/nail-polish-toxic/ Grand View Research, Inc,. 10.2017. Nail polish market size worth $15.55 billion by 2024 | CAGR: 9.5 %. Read on 05.12.2017. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-nail-polish-market Mejia, L. 04.10.2011. Formaldehyde in Cosmetics: What’s the Verdict? Rodale, Inc. Read on 05.12.2017. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/style/formaldehyde-in-cosmetics-whats-the-verdict Quach, T. Last updated on 22.05.2015. How your NAIL POLISH could be damaging your health: Cosmetic contains chemicals linked to fertility problems and cancer, scientist warns. Associated Newspapers Ltd, part of the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Read on 05.12.2017. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3091001/How-NAIL-POLISH-damaging-health-Cosmetic-contains-chemicals-linked-fertility-problems-cancer-scientist-warns.html Toluene. OSH Answers Fact Online Sheets. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). 05.12.2017 Tampere, Finland. http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/toluene.html Turner, K. 24.08.2016. Is nail polish bad for your health? We asked the experts. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2017. Read on 05.12.2017. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/nails/is-nail-polish-bad-for-your-nails-we-asked-the-experts/ U.S. Food & Drug administration (FDA). Nail care products. Read on 05.12.2017. https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Products/ucm127068.htm#forma United Sates Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Facts about Formaldehyde. Read on 05.12.2017. https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/facts-about-formaldehyde Westervelt, A. 10.02.2015. Phthalates are everywhere, and the health risks are worrying. How bad are they really? The Guardian, Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Read on 05.12.2017. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/10/phthalates-plastics-chemicals-research-analysis |
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