Ask Rita: Is There Anywhere to Buy Nail Polish Without Tphp?

Q: Do you know where in Calgary I can buy nail polish without triphenyl phosphate A; In case you haven't read the headlines, a recent study has revealed that an ingredient found in most nail polish, triphenyl phosphate, or TPHP, may be an endocrine disrupter.TPHP, a fire retardant found in furniture and plastic goods, among other uses, is put in nail polish to make it more durable. A recent study published by the Environmental Working Group and Duke University found that within 10 to 14 hours of painting their nails, women who used nail polish with TPHP had seven times the TPHP metabolite in their bodies. TPHP is an endocrine disrupter; ironically it was put into nail polish to replace phthalates, which are also linked to reproductive problems.It's believed the TPHP is absorbed through the nail bed, so wearing a mask won't help. Men exposed to TPHP have lower sperm counts and women, early puberty; it may even be a factor in obesity. (The latter is what generated lots of headlines - forget if it's poisonous, it causes weight gain!) Much like recent headlines that links bacon to cancer, this nail polish study has been met with much skepticism by the cosmetics industry; whether or not you believe there is a danger is for you to decide.However as of late October the polish brand Butter London - sold at Sephora and The Bay, among other stores - announced they were removing TPHP from their formulas. (Older products still on the shelves may still contain it). At press time this was the only polish I could find in Calgary that did not contain TPHP; however I suspect many brands, particularly those sold at natural food stores like Community Natural Foods and Planet Organic, will make an effort to find alternatives to TPHP in the near future.Q: I want a pair of Church's ankle boots but they are almost $600. Zara has a pair that looks similar - but definitely are not the same - for under $150. My husband thinks I should save my money and buy the cheaper pair. What do you thinkA: No offence to Zara - I visit the store whenever I'm at Chinook Mall - but the Zara boots contain neither the materials nor quality of the Church's - which if you take good care of them, could last a lifetime. The company was founded in 1873 and most pairs are still hand made in the U.K. (Fun fact: Church's was the first company to make shoes with a different left and right foot.) Readers of this column know I am all for quality over quantity. It's easy to justify an expensive purchase if you amortize the wear over a period of time. I have a friend who wears a pair that her Aunt bought in the 1950s. I say splurge!Postscript: Last month, after I answered a question regarding where in Calgary to find women's shoes in size 12, a reader wrote in and noted I missed Vanity Shoes in Britannia Shopping Centre. Janice said she'd been shopping there for over 45 years, and felt they had the best selection when it came to narrow widths, which Vanity carries starting at AAAA. Vanity specializes in brands made in Spain and Italy such as Stuart Weitzman and Robert Capucci, so they aren't inexpensive - but she notes the quality is very good. They're old school and have no website; to see the selection you'll have to visit the store at 814 - 49 Ave. S.W., phone: 403-243-4595.