title: Screening-level human health risk assessment of toluene and dibutyl phthalate in nail lacquers.
abstract: Toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are found in many consumer products, including cosmetics, synthetic fragrances, and nail polish. In 2012, the California Environmental Protection Agency evaluated 25 nail products and found that 83% of the products that claimed to be toluene-free contained toluene at concentrations ranging up to 190,000 ppm, and 14% of the products that claimed to be DBP-free contained DBP at concentrations ranging up to 88,000 ppm. We conducted a preliminary, screening-level analysis of the potential toluene and DBP-related health risks to consumers and professionals based on the medium and maximum concentrations of toluene and DBP presented in the 2012 report and evaluated dermal and inhalation exposure to a salon patron, nail technician, and home user. We concluded that the maximum toluene concentration for the technician and home user scenarios exceeded the California MADL, but the estimated air concentrations did not exceed the Federal or Cal OSHA PEL. The MADL for DBP was exceeded for all user scenarios at both the median and maximum concentrations. Using these highly conservative assumptions, exposures above regulatory limits could possibly occur during routine use of nail products; further research is needed in order to evaluate potential human health risks.
authors: Cardno ChemRisk, LLC 101 2nd Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. Electronic address: luda.kopelovich@cardno.com.
authors: Luda
authors: L
authors: Kopelovich
authors: Cardno ChemRisk, LLC 101 2nd Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA.
authors: Angela L
authors: AL
authors: Perez
authors: Cardno ChemRisk, LLC 231 Front Street, Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
authors: Neva
authors: N
authors: Jacobs
authors: Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Mendelsohn
authors: Cardno ChemRisk, LLC 2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22201, USA.
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Keenan
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007764:Lacquer / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D009262:Nails; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D014050:Toluene
keywords: Cal EPA; Dibutyl phalate; IH Mod; Nail polish; SkinPerm; Toluene