High-formaldehyde hair products still in wide use in U.S. due to weak federal laws.
Click here for background information
For Immediate Release:
Oct. 8, 2010
Contact:
Sian Wu, 206-374-7795 x102, sian@resource-media.org
Erin Thompson Switalski, 406-543-3747, erins@womensvoices.org
OTTAWA–On Sept. 29, Oregon Health and Sciences University released lab results finding that two popular hair smoothing products manufactured by Brazilian Blowout contained dangerously high levels of formaldehyde (ranging from 4.85 to 10.6 percent), a suspected carcinogen. Health Canada, the department of the government of Canada responsible for national public health, immediately conducted their own tests, finding even higher levels, of 12 percent formaldehyde. Health Canada is working with the exclusive Canadian distributor to stop distribution of this product to salons in Canada, and is also informing consumers of the health risks associated with this product. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates personal care products in the U.S., has done nothing. Read the Canadian government’s strong warning here: http://ow.ly/2QKVr
The following statement is from Women’s Voices for the Earth, a national organization that works to eliminate toxic chemicals that impact women’s health by changing consumer behaviors, corporate practices, and government policies.
“The Canadian government is able—and finds it warranted—to recall hair products with dangerously high levels of formaldehyde, while the U.S. government sits on its hands. The Brazilian Blowout incident shines a light on the flaws in U.S. consumer protection law, which leaves U.S. consumers unprotected from dangerous chemicals and potentially serious, long-term health impacts. Passage of the Safe Cosmetics Act is a common sense fix to our weak regulations. It would ensure the health and wellbeing of consumers and workers, while restoring faith in the safety of U.S. products.” Erin Thompson Switalski, Executive Director, Women’s Voices for the Earth
###
 |
Support the Safe Cosmetics Act, which will protect salon workers from harmful chemicals and ban carcinogens like formaldehyde from personal care products. |
