The US Food and Drug Administration plans to submit a proposal regarding a possible ban on some hair-straightening chemical products.
Plans on Banning Hair-Straightening Chemical Products
The products include pressing products and chemical relaxers, among others. The proposal plans come after considering the products' associated health risks.
The FDA plans that the proposed rule will specifically target the ban on hair-straightening products that consist formaldehyde and other chemicals that release formaldehyde, including glycol or methylene.
Should this proposal be issued, the FDA would attract public comments. After assessing the comment, the agency will then deliberate whether it would be necessary to proceed with any further action.
The FDA explains on its official site that, depending on the comments, they could choose to end the process of rulemaking, to release a new rule proposal, or to release a final rule. Should they choose the last option, the final rule would be published in the Federal Register.
Last March, Reps. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, and Ayanna Pressley, D-Massachusetts, wrote a letter to Dr. Robert Califf, the FDA commission, to urge the FDA to perform a transparent and thorough investigation to know which specific hair-straightening chemical products consist of carcinogens that may boost uterine cancer risk.
Both of them have applauded the agency's actions and call that the FDA would implement such prohibitions.
Associated Health Risks of Hair-Straightening Chemical Products
A 2022 study discovered the link between straightening product use and uterine cancer. It was participated by almost 34,000 women across the USA, with ages ranging from 35 to 74 years old. The study discovered that the incident rate for uterine cancer was higher for those who reported hair-straightening chemical product use in the last 12 months compared to those who did not do so.
The study also discovered that among women who regularly used the products, their risks of getting uterine cancer at 70 years old was roughly 4%. Among women who did not use the products in the course of 12 months, their risk was around 1.6%.
Specialists have long been able to identify the link between hair-straightening chemical product usage with a higher risk of getting some cancers related to hormones, breast and ovarian cancers, as well as uterine cancer. This was particularly the case among Latina and Black women.
According to research, roughly 50% of products promoted to Black women consisted of these chemicals, while the numbers of White women were at 7%.
It is expected that the FDA would propose a language that notes that such products are also associated with short-term health risks, including breathing issues and sensitization reactions. It may also note that the chemicals are used in particular products applied to the hair of humans as a mix of a heating and chemical treatment tool designed to straighten or smoothen out the hair.
Pressley explains that the ban of the FDA regarding these hair-straightener chemical products is a good thing for public health, especially for Black women's health. These women end up being put at risk as a result from anti-Black hair sentiment and systemic racism.
She adds that regardless of how one wears the hair, it is crucial that everyone be allowed to show up without having to risk health, further applauding the responsiveness of the FDA.
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