Is Toluene safe for use in nail products?
The safety of Toluene has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated all available scientific data and concluded that Toluene is safe as a cosmetic ingredient. The CIR Expert Panel, as part of the routine reexamination of ingredient safety, considered available new data on Toluene and reaffirmed the above conclusion in 2005. The FDA has reviewed the safety of Toluene and allows its use as an indirect food additive as a component of adhesives and coatings, paper and paperboard, and polymers. The FDA has imposed no restrictions on the use of toluene in nail care products. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that overexposure to Toluene in nail polish or fingernail glue may cause harmful and potentially dangerous health effects. Overexposure is defined as exposure exceeding safe limits established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA). Quantities of these ingredients in nail care produc
