Nail Salon Products

Gel/acrylic nails, frequent salon visits.

50Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swap'3-free/9-free' polish; ventilated salons

How this score is built

100Start
72.4Chemical hazard 6 × 4.6−27.6
55.4Everyday exposure 5 × 3.4−17
50Persistence 2 × 2.6−5.2, then rounded to 50
ModerateThe band50 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	6/10	unsourced input
Everyday exposure	5/10	Indoor air in six Colorado nail salons held formaldehyde at 5.32-20.6 micrograms/m3, toluene at 26.7-816 and benzene at 3.13-51.8 micrograms/m3; measured for the workers, whose estimated cancer risks exceeded the US EPA de minimis level. Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds and health risks in Colorado nail salons · Environ Pollut 2019 DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.086 · PMID 30933751 · Abstract · read 2026-10-16
Persistence	2/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

The chemical-hazard rating is what drives the score down. The 'toxic trio' — toluene, formaldehyde, DBP — plus solvent fumes make salons a real inhalation exposure. Choose ventilated shops and cleaner polishes.

Evidence strength: moderate

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Lower-exposure choices

Fragrance-Free Basic SkincareMinimal · Personal Care

All 33 personal care entries, highest burden first →