Article 17: The Brazilian Blowout Hair Treatment Contains Dangerous Levels of Formaldehyde, But
the FDA Is Slow to Act
Topic: Toxins
Author: Lindsey Blomberg
Date: July 1, 2011
The Brazilian Blowout keratin-based hair-straightening treatment is reported to have contained the toxic carcinogen formaldehyde, despite being advertised as formaldehyde-free when a hairstylist from Portland, Oregon filed a complaint with the local Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA discovered that the the product has an ingredient that includes methylene glycol, which is what formaldehyde becomes when mixed with water. When the hair treatment is dried under a blow dryer, the methylene glycol reverts back to easily inhaled formaldehyde fumes. In addition, more salon workers stepped forward to complain about its effects. formaldehyde exposure has been linked to nose and throat cancer and leukemia. As a result, the U.S. U.S. congressional leaders are calling on the FDA to issue a voluntary recall of Brazilian Blowout and to consider a ban.
I decided to read and pick this article because of my AP Envirnonmental Science's recommendation. It is actually interesting to read this kind of article because as a teenager, it is very important for me to know the effects of beauty products that most women use. Beauty products can only lead to destruction, and the case of Brazilian blowout proves my point. In addition, it is not right for the company to lie about the formaldehyde present in their products. Their negligence about this eventually lead to severe consequences and complaints from users and consumers.
Author: Lindsey Blomberg
Date: July 1, 2011
The Brazilian Blowout keratin-based hair-straightening treatment is reported to have contained the toxic carcinogen formaldehyde, despite being advertised as formaldehyde-free when a hairstylist from Portland, Oregon filed a complaint with the local Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA discovered that the the product has an ingredient that includes methylene glycol, which is what formaldehyde becomes when mixed with water. When the hair treatment is dried under a blow dryer, the methylene glycol reverts back to easily inhaled formaldehyde fumes. In addition, more salon workers stepped forward to complain about its effects. formaldehyde exposure has been linked to nose and throat cancer and leukemia. As a result, the U.S. U.S. congressional leaders are calling on the FDA to issue a voluntary recall of Brazilian Blowout and to consider a ban.
I decided to read and pick this article because of my AP Envirnonmental Science's recommendation. It is actually interesting to read this kind of article because as a teenager, it is very important for me to know the effects of beauty products that most women use. Beauty products can only lead to destruction, and the case of Brazilian blowout proves my point. In addition, it is not right for the company to lie about the formaldehyde present in their products. Their negligence about this eventually lead to severe consequences and complaints from users and consumers.