Danish EPA requests online retailer recalls chloroform-containing nail products

By Andrew MCDOUGALL

- Last updated on GMT

Danish EPA requests online retailer recalls chloroform-containing nail products

Related tags Nervous system

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency has asked online cosmetic retailer, Fashion Girl, to stop selling packs of false nails, after the nail glue enclosed was found to contain high levels of chloroform.

High levels of the carcinogen were found in the nail adhesive enclosed in packages for the ‘Nerissa’ and ‘Design Nail’ products.

Exposure to the substance can damage the liver and kidneys and increase risk of cancer.

The nail glue adhesives for French nails enclosed in the packs of false nails are sold on the web shop FashionGirl.dk.

Request

The Danish EPA has asked that the online retailer stops selling the products, warns consumers of the dangers potentially posed by the glue, and recalls the nail adhesive too.

The Ministry of Environment and Food  made its findings after EPA chemical inspectors complied information from a report from the Swedish authorities and conducted its own analysis, saying that it found high levels of the carcinogen chloroform in the products.

Trichloromethane (better known as chloroform) affects the central nervous system and can cause discomfort during use of nail glue, says the Danish EPA.

The discomfort can be in the form of a headache, dizziness and other central nervous system events.

The Environment Agency advises consumers who have purchased the nail glue on FashionGirl.dk, to send the product back to the retailer or dispose of the product safely.

FashionGirl.dk says it will refund the purchase price and the cost of return.

Safety

For more than a decade the Danish EPA has been engaged in work to identify chemical substances in a number of consumer products, such as toys, cosmetics, clothes, furniture etc.

The effort is targeted towards products that might contain problematic chemicals, or products that consumers are highly exposed to.

Chloroform is on the European Commission’s list of substances prohibited in cosmetics products (Annex II/366).

Related topics Regulation & Safety