A new study has uncovered strong evidence that links Ultra-Violet (UV) nail polish dryers commonly used for gel manicures with cancer.
According to the study by the University of California San Diego and the University of Pittsburgh in the United States, UV light may cause cell mutations leading to cancer.
Science Alert reported that in 2013, researchers found that the UV radiation emitted by nail dryers was 4.2 times stronger than the sun.
“The authors concluded that the high intensity of the exposure warranted further studies,” they said.
The California and Pittsburgh study now says that just one 20-minute session of drying gel polish can result in between 20 and 30 per cent cell death.
“For a single manicure, a person sticks their fingers under UV light for about 10 minutes. The exposure in the current study was extreme in comparison,” they said.
They used the cells of mice and found considerable cell damage and mutation that could be replicated in human cells.
20 minutes of exposure a day for three days back-to-back killed up to 70 per cent of exposed cells.
They said that cells that remained after the total exposure period showed signs of DNA damage and mutations linked to skin cancer.
“While these results do not provide direct evidence of increased cancer risk, they do indicate an appreciable level of risk could be present.”
“But the risk to the individual is something cancer scientists are not dismissing quite yet,” they added.
