The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signaled that it would soon announce a proposal that would ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from being used in hair relaxer products sold in the United States. This news arrives not long after the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) published a study linking regular use of hair relaxers to a doubled risk of uterine cancer.
The April announcement will be followed by an FDA assessment to determine if it should issue a ban.
Formaldehyde— a pungent, colorless, and flammable gas— is widely used in various industries, from building materials and glues to disinfectants and foam insulation. It can be found in trace amounts in some foods. It’s also produced naturally by the human body during the metabolic process. However, this seemingly harmless chemical has been linked to serious health risks.
The dangers of formaldehyde
In 2004, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that formaldehyde was “carcinogenic to humans” after finding sufficient evidence linking it to nasopharyngeal cancer. In 1987, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had already classified formaldehyde as a “probable human carcinogen” due to its link to lung cancer. Moreover, strong evidence suggests that prolonged exposure to formaldehyde may also be associated with leukemia and sinonasal cancer.
Despite the health risks, many professional-grade hair relaxer brands continue to use formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in their formulas. These chemicals help to keep the products free from bacterial contamination and extend their shelf life. However, when hair relaxers containing these chemicals are applied to the scalp, formaldehyde gas is released, potentially exposing users to harmful levels of the carcinogen.
As the FDA prepares its proposal, a couple states have already taken steps to protect beauty product consumers. California and Maryland have committed to banning formaldehyde from all personal care products by 2025. If the FDA moves forward with a ban on formaldehyde in hair relaxers, it could set a precedent for other states to follow suit.
This lawsuit is still fairly new, so don’t miss your chance to join before a settlement is announced. If you or a family member developed uterine cancer after regularly using a drugstore hair relaxer, see if you qualify to receive compensation.
