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Related Experiment Videos

Formaldehyde in "Nontoxic" Nail Polish.

Lindsey M Voller, Lena Persson1, Magnus Bruze1

  • 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.

Dermatitis : Contact, Atopic, Occupational, Drug
|July 2, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Formaldehyde was detected in 5 of 29 nail polishes, with 4 falsely advertised as formaldehyde-free. This highlights potential risks for consumers with sensitivities due to inaccurate labeling of cosmetic nail products.

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Area of Science:

  • Cosmetic Science
  • Dermatology
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Nail polish can contain hazardous chemicals linked to health issues.
  • Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and allergen, is used in some nail products.
  • Concerns exist regarding formaldehyde exposure from cosmetic nail products.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if formaldehyde is present in nail polishes marketed as formaldehyde-free.
  • Investigate potential mislabeling of formaldehyde content in nail polishes.
  • Assess the accuracy of "formaldehyde-free" claims in the cosmetic nail industry.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 29 cosmetic nail polishes, with 28 claimed to be formaldehyde-free.
  • Initial screening using the chromotropic acid colorimetric method.

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  • Quantitative analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a 2 ppm detection limit.

    • Main Results:

    • Formaldehyde was detected in 5 out of 29 nail polishes analyzed.
    • Four of the five positive products were explicitly marketed as formaldehyde-free.
    • The remaining 24 products contained less than 2 ppm of formaldehyde.

    Conclusions:

    • Some nail polishes advertised as formaldehyde-free contain detectable levels of formaldehyde.
    • Further investigation into specific brands and product lines is warranted.
    • Accurate labeling of nail products is crucial to prevent adverse reactions in sensitive individuals.