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Is Your Mani/Pedi Toxic? Healthy Nail Alternatives

From the Show: Naturally Savvy
Summary: You wouldn't paint your nails with paint used in the automotive industry, would you?
Air Date: 11/4/15
Duration: 10
Host: Andrea Donsky, RHN and Lisa Davis, MPH
Guest Bio: Lisa Beres, Certified Green Building Professional
ron-lisa-beresLisa and Ron Beres are Certified Green Building Professionals, Building Biologists and published authors of several books including Just GREEN It! and the children's book, My Body My House. In addition to testing the health of homes, their consulting business includes celebrities and Fortune 500's. They are award winning television media experts and have appeared on The Rachael Ray Show, The Suzanne Show, The Doctors, Fox & Friends, The Today Show with Matt Lauer, NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams, Discovery’s Greenovate and Chelsea Lately on E!
  • Book Title: Just GREEN It! Simple Swaps to Save the Planet + Your Health
  • Guest Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/RonandLisaTheHealthyHomeDreamTeam
  • Guest Twitter Account: @RonandLisa
Is Your Mani/Pedi Toxic? Healthy Nail Alternatives
You wouldn't paint your nails with paint used in the automotive industry, would you?

Well, that's how nail polish came about, based on the lacquer used in that same paint. 

Unfortunately, with pretty, polished nails comes toxic exposure. 

Lisa Beres, Certified Green Building Professional, says you need to watch out for the "toxic trio" which includes:

  • formaldehyde: a carcinogen
  • toluene: a toxin that may cause birth defects and developmental problems in children of pregnant women who have had extended exposure
  • dibutyl phthalate (DBP): has been linked to birth defects in studies involving lab animals

Beres says you should be looking for polishes that are "3 Free" or "5 Free" (in addition to the toxic trio, nail polishes can also contain camphor and formaldehyde resin).

Now, a new chemical in nail polishes, TPHP, is ending up in human bodies. TPHP is an endocrine disrupting chemical commonly used in plastics and in foam furniture.

Even products labeled "healthy" aren't necessarily free of dangerous chemicals, so you have to truly investigate the brands you use.

Beres joins host Lisa Davis to share more about the dangers of nail polishes and polish removers. She also lists specific brands that are the safest to use, as well as ones you should stay away from.