Your Manicure May Have Just Been Banned
Your Manicure May Have Just Been Banned
Text: Izzy Copestake
TPO has now been classified as a “reproductive toxicant”
If you’re a fan of long-lasting gel manicures, there’s a chance your polish has just been pulled from salons and shelves in Ireland.
As of September 1, the EU has officially banned TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide), a chemical commonly used in gel nail polish to help it harden quickly under UV lamps. This is because TPO has now been classified as a “reproductive toxicant” based on animal studies showing links to fertility issues and testicular abnormalities.
It’s important to note that this is a precautionary measure by the EU. The evidence of harm in humans is still unclear and according to cosmetic chemists, the way TPO is used in gel polish, applied to nails, not ingested, makes the real-world risk low. Still, the European Commission isn’t taking any chances, ordering that all TPO-containing products be immediately withdrawn from shelves, with no grace period.
This isn’t a ban on gel polish itself but if you’re visiting a salon in Ireland or anywhere else in the EU, the products used must now be TPO-free. Some brands had already moved in that direction and are using alternative ingredients to achieve the same results. But others will now need to reformulate very quickly.
The UK has announced plans to follow suit, but the same can’t be said for the United States, where TPO remains fully legal and unregulated.
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