Nail polishes that claim to be free of harsh chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and fertility problems may contain the hazardous ingredients anyway, according to a state study released Tuesday.
A small sample of 25 nail polishes distributed to Bay Area salons found that some products labeled as "three-free" - meaning they did not contain the three chemicals most commonly associated with negative health effects - often had at least trace amounts of one of the hazardous substances.
In fact, products that claimed to be free of the "toxic trio" of hazardous chemicals - toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde - were actually more likely to contain those ingredients than products that made no such claims.
The findings disappointed state and local environmental regulators and angered the growing number of nail salon owners who are trying to seek out the safest products for their customers and employees.
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