NAILS has reported the ongoing controversy over whether the level of toluene in nail polish constitutes a real risk to nail technicians, and we have not found any reports or evidence that shows toluene does any harm to nail technicians whose exposure to it is moderate or low. In fact, our report in September 1992 (“How Safe Is Toluene?”) details toluene studies that show low-level exposure is not dangerous. But suddenly, news reporters have latched on to toluene, fashion magazines warn their readers to find alternatives, and polish makers who have removed it use that information in all their marketing. It would be understandable if nail technicians and nail polish consumers alike simply opted against using any polish with toluene because solid, accurate information was so difficult to obtain.
The danger to our industry of this kind of report is that toluene may not survive the taint of controversy and nail manufactures, who have both their customers’ and their businesses’ health in mind, suffer from their association with the chemical. Most nail polish manufacturers and major marketers tell us that polish without toluene simply does not work as well (“If there was a reliable substitute, why wouldn’t we all just change?” asks a leading marketer). The principle of innocent until proven guilty applies to criminals, not products. Nail technicians must respond to this issue without fear, but with facts.
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