A popular hair-straightening treatment called the Brazilian Blowout transforms uncontrollable, curly hair to straight hair but contains high levels of the toxin formaldehyde. The treatment costs hundreds of dollars but guarantees smooth, non-frizzy hair for months. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) discovered that Brazilian Blowout products contain the toxic carcinogen formaldehyde when a stylist in Portland complained to the local OSHA. The hairstylist experienced shortness of breath, eye irritation, and nose bleeds when using Brazilian Blowout products. However, the Brazilian Blowout products were advertised as formaldehyde-free but includes the ingredient methylene glycol, which becomes formaldehyde when mixed with water. The methylene glycol returns back to formaldehyde fumes when dried using a hair dryer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers a beauty product safe to consumers if it contains less than 0.2% of formaldehyde. According to OSHA tests, Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution has 6.3-10.6% levels of formaldehyde. More salon workers stepped forward, complaining of shortness of breath and burning eyes and throats when performing the treatment. Besides these side effects, formaldehyde can lead to nose and throat cancer and leukemia. Congress leaders of the U.S. are calling on the FDA to recall the Brazilian Blowout and to consider a ban. With the Safe Cosmetics Act, which was introduced in 2011, the FDA is able to restrict harmful chemicals in beauty products. On the bright side, people with unruly hair can still have their hair straightened. Brazilian Blowout now makes Brazilian Blowout Zero, a plant-based alternative, and supposedly works the same and releases no formaldehyde at all.
After reading this article, I feel bad for the women. They just want to have their hair straightened, but then suddenly they have toxins in their hair and have health symptoms. I agree with Jamie Silberberger of Women’s Voices for the Earth, who said "All products should be tested for safety before they hit the market. This is standard policy in the food and drug industry." To reduce health problems and diseases caused by toxins and chemicals in beauty products/cosmetics, all products should be tested to make sure they are safe for consumers. I believe this will lessen the impact on the health of consumers.
Source: http://ogoapes.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/3/9/3239894/toxins-_hair_scare.pdf
Article by Lindsey Blomberg on August 2,2011
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers a beauty product safe to consumers if it contains less than 0.2% of formaldehyde. According to OSHA tests, Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution has 6.3-10.6% levels of formaldehyde. More salon workers stepped forward, complaining of shortness of breath and burning eyes and throats when performing the treatment. Besides these side effects, formaldehyde can lead to nose and throat cancer and leukemia. Congress leaders of the U.S. are calling on the FDA to recall the Brazilian Blowout and to consider a ban. With the Safe Cosmetics Act, which was introduced in 2011, the FDA is able to restrict harmful chemicals in beauty products. On the bright side, people with unruly hair can still have their hair straightened. Brazilian Blowout now makes Brazilian Blowout Zero, a plant-based alternative, and supposedly works the same and releases no formaldehyde at all.
After reading this article, I feel bad for the women. They just want to have their hair straightened, but then suddenly they have toxins in their hair and have health symptoms. I agree with Jamie Silberberger of Women’s Voices for the Earth, who said "All products should be tested for safety before they hit the market. This is standard policy in the food and drug industry." To reduce health problems and diseases caused by toxins and chemicals in beauty products/cosmetics, all products should be tested to make sure they are safe for consumers. I believe this will lessen the impact on the health of consumers.
Source: http://ogoapes.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/3/9/3239894/toxins-_hair_scare.pdf
Article by Lindsey Blomberg on August 2,2011