Acrylates in artificial nails-Results of product analyses and glove penetration studies

BackgroundArtificial nail materials are mixtures that are prone to contain several sensitizing (meth)acrylates. It is not known whether the listing of (meth)acrylates is correct in these products' packages. Protective gloves suited for nail work are needed.ObjectivesTo analyse (meth)acrylates in gel nail and acrylic nail products chemically and to compare the results with the information in the product labels, and to study penetration of artificial nail materials through selected disposable gloves.MethodsWe analysed 31 gel nail products and 6 acrylic nail products for their (meth)acrylate content by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We tested the penetration of two nail products through three disposable gloves: nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).ResultsAltogether 32/37 products contained (meth)acrylates. In all of them, there was discrepancy between the listed (meth)acrylates and those discovered in the analysis. The commonest (meth)acrylates were hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA, 20/37 samples) and hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA, 9/37 samples), but many of the product packages failed to declare them. Isobornyl acrylate (IBA) was discovered in nine gel nail products. The neoprene glove could withstand nail gel for 20 min and thin nitrile glove and PVC glove for 5 min. Acrylic nail liquid penetrated through disposable gloves quickly.ConclusionsLabelling of artificial nail products was notably incorrect on most products. Requirements for product labelling must be updated so that the risk of sensitization associated with artificial nail products is clearly indicated. Disposable gloves can probably be used short-term in gel nail work, whereas disposable gloves do not protect the user from acrylic nail liquids. We analysed (meth)acrylates in 37 artificial nail products and screened their product packages. There was a notable discrepancy between the ingredient listing on the packages and the results of the chemical analysis. Disposable gloves were tested against a gel nail and an acrylic nail product.image

Automated summary

This study chemically analyzed the (meth)acrylate content in 31 gel nail products and 6 acrylic nail products, and compared the results with the information on product labels. The penetration of artificial nail materials through disposable gloves was also tested. The labeling of most artificial nail products was found to be incorrect, and disposable gloves were not effective in protecting against acrylic nail liquids.