The products, often marketed to Black women , have been linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer.
Individuals who use hair-straightening products may have to seek alternative options following a forthcoming FDA ruling. The proposed regulation is targeted at hair-straightening products that include formaldehyde and related chemicals like methylene and glycol, which release formaldehyde. This information was disclosed in the Unified Agenda, a tool used by the FDA to monitor its upcoming regulatory actions.
Formaldehyde has been recognized by scientists as a potentially harmful substance to human health for a long time. A study published in 2019 in the International Journal of Cancer associated formaldehyde with an increased risk of breast cancer.In 2022, a significant link was established between formaldehyde found in hair straightening products and uterine cancer, as reported by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
A study involving 34,000 women in the United States, aged 35 to 74, found a notably higher incidence of uterine cancer among those who had used hair-straightening products in the past 12 months compared to those who had not.The study further revealed that women over the age of 70 who had used these products in the past year had a 4% risk of developing uterine cancer, while those who did not use such products had a 1.6% risk.
It’s worth noting that the effects of formaldehyde in hair-straightening products disproportionately impact Black women, as they are often marketed products containing these chemicals. Research conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health indicated that 50% of hair-straightening products targeted at Black women contain potentially hazardous chemicals, whereas only 7% of products marketed to White women contain the same substances.
On March 15, 2023, Representatives Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Shontel Brown of Ohio penned an open letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, urging a thorough and transparent investigation to determine whether publicly available chemical hair straightening products contain carcinogens that increase the risk of uterine cancer. marketed to Black women
Following the release of news about the proposed FDA ruling, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on her website commending the FDA for taking action. She stated, “I applaud the FDA for being responsive to our calls and advancing a rule that will help prevent manufacturers from making a profit at the expense of our health. The Administration should finalize this rule without delay.”