The long-standing axiom that beauty comes at a price may be especially truthful when one considers the questionable ingredients found in many cosmetics, including nail polish. In fact, several environmental groups have actively campaigned to increase consumer awareness about potentially harmful nail polish ingredients in recent years. In particular, they have pointed a finger at dibutyl phthalate (DBP), the substance that makes fingernail polish dry to a smooth varnish. While DBP has been banned in Europe for a number of years, it is often still found among nail polish ingredients in the U.S. However, given the number of other chemicals used to make nail polish, DBP only represents the tip of the list of dangerous toxins.

Several industrial solvents are commonly included as nail polish ingredients that pose a threat to the nervous system simply by habitual or prolonged inhalation of their fumes. Toluene, for instance, is one of the nail polish ingredients that promote a feeling of intoxication when inhaled. It’s also been linked to neurological disturbances in humans and impaired fetal development in animal studies. Another solvent, methylene chloride, is classified by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as a potential carcinogen. It also increases the risk of hypoxia in people with cardiovascular disease, a condition that depletes tissues of oxygen.

Many other nail polish ingredients are known to be carcinogenic. One persistent ingredient, formaldehyde, has been shown to produce nasal squamous cell cancers in rats and there is a high incidence of brain cancer in humans exposed to this chemical in occupational settings, such as morticians and pathologists. Benzoyl peroxide, better known as the zit-zapping stuff in a tube, is actually an industrial chemical added to self-curing plastics. It is also a common nail polish ingredient that has been linked to skin cancer in animals.

Glycol ethers also present certain health hazards. They have been shown to reduce sperm count and increase the rate of miscarriages in both animals and humans at very low exposure concentrations. In fact, toxicity from glycol ethers can occur without the telltale symptoms of nausea or dizziness.

Does this mean you should stop polishing your nails? Not necessarily. Many big name manufacturers have mobilized to remove DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene from their nail polish formulations and several new companies have emerged to pave the way for natural nail polish. Of course, a careful inspection of the list of ingredients would be prudent before purchasing any nail product. In addition, insist that proper ventilation be used when visiting a nail salon.