Congressional leaders to FDA: protect public from toxic hair treatments
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Women’s Voices for the Earth
May 10, 2011
WASHINGTON—A group of 10 members of Congress sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration on Friday expressing their deep concern regarding formaldehyde-containing hair-straighteners and asking the agency to take immediate action to protect workers and consumers.
This Congressional plea came in the wake of a flurry of action against and news about the keratin hair-straightening products Brazilian Blowout Solution and Acai Professional Smoothing Solution. Across the country, hair salon workers and customers have complained of acute reactions such as hair loss, nose bleeds and breathing problems. In April, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a hazard alert, warning that formaldehyde-containing hair-straightening products can cause serious health problems, including increased risk of cancer. To date, the FDA has taken no action to protect workers and consumers in the United States from toxic hair straighteners.
