What is Acetone and is it Safe to Use?
[Photograph of bottle of acetone with a hazardous label]. (n.d.). Google Images
Have you put nail polish on, had it chip, and then just wanted to remove it all? Chances are that you used acetone, in some variation, to remove it. Now you may be wondering what exactly acetone is and why we use this substance to remove nail polish.
Acetone is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary (n.d.) as a "strong smelling, clear liquid that is used in the production of various chemicals and is sometimes added to paint to make it more liquid." Acetone does meet the criteria of this definition; however, this definition lacks the evidence to tell us if acetone is safe to use.
Bottles of acetone often have safety warnings that label it as highly flammable, toxic to the skin and eyes, and unsafe for ingestion. The New Jersey Department of Health (2015) reported the negative, toxic effects of prolonged exposure to acetone. Contact of acetone with skin, eyes, throat, and nose is known to cause irritation, dryness, and redness. The ingestion of acetone c an be poisonous and can cause symptoms such as "Headache, nausea, and vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness and even passing out." (New Jersey Department of Health, 2015). Knowing these facts may cause you to reconsider your use of acetone. Interestingly, acetone is actually found naturally in our bodies (Public Health England, 2019)! Acetone is present in our bodies to help us break down far, which means it is not toxic for us in small amounts (Public Health England, 2019). If continuing to use acetone, make sure you read the safety labels and follow the precautions to ensure that your own health remain intact. If you feel any adverse side effects after use or ingestions, it is important to take the appropriate precautions. If it is ingested, drink lots of water, do not induce vomiting, and call poison control (New Jersey Department of Health, 2015).
If you are still hesitant in continuing to use acetone to remove nail polish, there are other alternatives such as using either soy based nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, applying another coat of nail polish, or even hand sanitizer (Graham, 2022; TimesofIndia, 2020). However, it may require extra effort to remove the nail polish in comparison to acetone as acetone is an extremely effective solvent, in that it can easily dissolve other substances (Graham, 2022; Green Rose Chemistry, 2021).
From all that has been mentioned above, it is clear to see that acetone does a good job at what is meant to do, but it also has toxic properties. Is the toxicity of acetone enough to make you stop using it? After being presented with the facts, that is a decision for you to make!
Exam Questions:
What adverse symptom/effect would occur after prolonged soaking of fingernails in acetone?
If you ingest acetone, what measures should be taken for your health and safety?
What is the purpose of acetone in the human body?
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