FILE – Artificial acrylic nails painted on display in nail salon. Manucure. (Photo by: Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The European Union has banned a chemical used in many popular gel nail polish brands, citing studies that link it to fertility issues.
Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO)
Dig deeper:
TPO is a compound that reacts under UV light to make the polish harden quickly and results in a glass-like finish.
The studies that prompted the EU to ban certain gel polishes that contain TPO often focused on animal subjects, not humans. But the EU uses a strict “better safe than sorry” approach when it comes to cosmetics.
Regulators reclassified TPO as a Category 1B CMR substance, meaning it may cause cancer or reproductive harm. Under EU law, that triggered an automatic ban.
As a result, both the marketing and use of cosmetic products containing TPO — including in professional settings like nail salons — are strictly prohibited.
Salons in the EU must immediately stop using TPO products, even if they stocked up before the deadline, according to a release from the EU.
Technically, even old bottles of polish containing TPO aren’t legal after Sept. 1.
Brands are already reformulating with alternative ingredients like TPO-L, BAPO and methyl benzoylformate, according to industry reports.
Does this ban apply to the US?
No. The ban only impacts the EU.
UV/LED lamps safety
The backstory:
The lamps help to cure gel manicures and dry polish. However, they also emit ultraviolet rays, which have been linked to skin cancer and premature aging, according to Cleveland Clinic.
These rays penetrate deep into the skin and damage collagen. However, studies have shown that the connection between nail salon lamps and cancer appears weak or inconclusive.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from FOX News, reporting by Newsweek and an August 7 news release shared by the European Union. This story was reported from San Jose.
