Europe bans chemical used in some gel nail polishes
UC expert featured in CNN article discussing alleged 'reproductive toxicant'
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos spoke with CNN about the European Union prohibiting the use of a chemical ingredient called trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) in some gel nail polishes and other cosmetic products due to it allegedly being a "reproductive toxicant."
TPO works as a photoinitiator, meaning it responds to light. In gel nail polish, it helps the polish set under ultraviolet or UV light.
“It starts that reaction that gets it to cure,” said Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist and adjunct instructor at UC's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, told CNN.
The EU's concerns stem from animal study results, but Dobos said people who enjoy gel manicures do not need to panic.
“What’s important to keep in mind is that those end points and those studies were from animal-feeding studies. When you’re thinking about nail polish, that’s clearly not how we’re exposed to TPO. You’re not eating the nail polish. So, it’s a different route of exposure," Dobos said.
"In my opinion, these materials, in the way that they are used, are very safe, but there are alternatives,” she continued.
Dobos also spoke with CBS News about TPO and the EU decision. Watch the CBS News segment.
Featured photo at top of a person getting a manicure. Photo/nazar_ab/iStock Photo.
Related Stories
Recent advances may speed time to endometriosis diagnosis
March 16, 2026
The average time to clinical diagnosis of endometriosis is nine years. Definitive diagnosis of the disease is difficult, and until recently, has relied on laparoscopic surgery. Now, as Medscape recently reported, novel clinical recommendations, advanced diagnostic tools and research into inflammation and immune responses, are bringing promise that women with endometriosis will find relief sooner and without surgery, according to experts, including Katie Burns, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine associate professor.
Position-specific helmets may not improve protection
March 16, 2026
Local 12 highlighted a new study by biomedical engineering researchers that looked at how well new football helmets protected players from impacts that can cause concussions.
UC biologist talks about 'pearmageddon'
March 16, 2026
WLWT talks to UC biologist and Department Head Theresa Culley about invasive, nonnative Callery pear trees that are spreading across Ohio forests after they were introduced by landscapers more than 50 years ago.