Your Nail Polish Could Kill You. Don't let your nail polish slowly kill your body. ... It refers to the three most harmful chemicals contained in most nail care products: formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, two of which are among the over 1,300 chemicals banned from use in cosmetics in the European Union.

Is nail polish poisonous to humans?

Formaldehyde is a preservative that has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a potential cancer-causing substance. It is also among the most common substances that cause allergic contact dermatitis. Formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene can also cause allergic contact dermatitis.

What happens if I eat nail polish?

Toxicity: Minimally toxic in small taste amounts. Expected symptoms: Skin irritation with prolonged exposure and minor stomach upset, some mouth or throat irritation with ingestion. What to do: Wipe out mouth with a wet wash cloth and give your child a drink of water to wash the nail polish down to the stomach.