The US Food and Drug Administration is planning to propose a ban on certain hair-straightening products – like chemical relaxers and pressing products – that have been linked to health risks, according to an entry in the Unified Agenda, which lists actions that administrative agencies plan to issue.
The rule would specifically ban products that contain formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, like methylene or glycol, reports CNN.
If such a proposed rule is issued, the FDA will receive public comments on it, and thereafter, decide whether further action is needed, said a spokesperson.
A study published last year in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found evidence of an association between the use of straightening products and uterine cancer.
Among nearly 34 000 American women aged 35 to 74, the study found a higher incident uterine cancer rate for those who had reported using hair-straightening chemical products in the previous 12 months relative to those who did not.
Among women who frequently used the products, the risk of developing uterine cancer by 70 was around 4%. In women who had not used hair-straightening products in the previous 12 months, the risk of developing uterine cancer by 70 to be about 1.6%.
One woman in Missouri claimed in a lawsuit against L’Oreal and other entities that her uterine cancer was caused by regular and prolonged exposure to chemicals found in the companies’ hair-straightening products.
The suit was filed last year on behalf of Missouri resident Jenny Mitchell, who was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2018 and underwent a full hysterectomy.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Uterine cancer risk linked to hair-straightening products – US study
US court to hear 60 consolidated lawsuits over L'Oreal hair straightener claims
US lawsuit claims L’Oreal’s hair straighteners caused cancer
Beauticians and barbers have higher ovarian cancer – Canadian study