UMass Lowell Institute Looking For Alternatives For Toxic Gel Nail Polish

Emma Friedman

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Europeans are taking preventive measures, so those going in for
a manicure and the nail tech aren't exposed.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
The concern specifically for the EU is that they're finding,
especially in animal studies, that there could be reproductive toxicity.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
I met Alicia McCarthy at her lab at UMass loll.
She's a scientist at Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute also
known as Turrey, and says swapping the gel polish for
dip nails might not be much better with.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
These chemicals because they react to UV light their skin sensitizers,
which basically means that it can cause an allergy over
time to UV light and make your skin itchy or
breakout into hives.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
I asked if we could see a similar ban here.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
I can't say whether or not EPA will decide to
ban it. That's really up to them, but I know
here in Massachusetts we don't ban chemicals. We work with companies,
communities one on one to be able to find safer
alternatives so they can easily be able to replace that
in a holistic manner.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
And loll, I'm a freedman. W BZ, Boston's news radio