Effects of Nail Polish
Effects on Human health
The ingredients in nail polishes with the most noticeable and serious effects on human health are generally the solvents, and this is because they evaporate when the nail polish dries, causing their fumes to be inhaled and more easily internalized. Butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, formaldehyde, and toluene all pose risks to good health. Butyl acetate is toxic and can cause irritation to the skin, lungs, and eyes. Ethyl acetate can damage the kidney, lungs, liver, and heart if its fumes are ingested over long periods of time. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, which means that it causes cancer, and its fumes can irritate mucus membranes in the nose, throat, and eyes. Toluene is fatal if swallowed, and can cause birth defects in animals.
Dibutyl phthalate is another chemical in nail polish that is bad for human health. It can cause reproductive defects and fetal development problems. Short-term exposure to dibutyl phthalate can cause vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. Prolonged exposure can be linked to kidney and liver damage.
Another common ingredient in nail polish, nitrocellulose, can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.
Dibutyl phthalate is another chemical in nail polish that is bad for human health. It can cause reproductive defects and fetal development problems. Short-term exposure to dibutyl phthalate can cause vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. Prolonged exposure can be linked to kidney and liver damage.
Another common ingredient in nail polish, nitrocellulose, can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.
Effects on the environment
All of these chemicals (butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and nitrocellulose) are harmful to humans, and therefore also harmful to animals. These animals can be exposed to these chemicals when nail polish is removed and disposed of or even thrown out in large quantities. The chemicals can also get into the water system through rainfall washing them out of garbage dumps and into sewers or rivers.
Aside from containing many toxic chemicals, nail polish produces a lot of waste. The polish that comes off of the nails must go somewhere, and the jars that the varnish comes in must go somewhere. After the nail polish has been used up, its packaging cannot be recycled, even if it is made out of a recyclable material, because the nail polish is toxic. The packaging must be disposed of in dumps or hazardous waste facilities.
Aside from containing many toxic chemicals, nail polish produces a lot of waste. The polish that comes off of the nails must go somewhere, and the jars that the varnish comes in must go somewhere. After the nail polish has been used up, its packaging cannot be recycled, even if it is made out of a recyclable material, because the nail polish is toxic. The packaging must be disposed of in dumps or hazardous waste facilities.