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A new analysis of 18 hair products used by black women finds that they contain 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-associated chemicals, a finding that could help explain why this population suffers from higher rates of chemical exposure and hormone-related health conditions.
“We found multiples of our targeted chemicals in all of our products,” said study lead author Jessica S. Helm, PhD, of the Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Mass., in an interview. “We’re concerned about the additive effect of multiple products being used together.”
According to the study, previous research has found that, compared with white women, U.S. black women have higher urinary levels of chemicals like phthalates and parabens. Black women also have higher rates of asthma and hormone-related health conditions like uterine fibroids and infertility, Dr. Helms said.
The researchers launched their study to better understand the possible role of hair care products in raising chemical levels in black women, Dr. Helm said.
The researchers tested 18 types of hair care products shown by a 2004-2005 survey to be popular among black women: hot oil treatments, anti-frizz products and polishes, leave-in conditioners, root stimulators, hair lotions, and relaxers. Researchers had purchased the products in 2008.
The researchers detected 45 of 66 target chemicals in the samples, including some that are banned in the European Union or regulated in California based on health concerns, according to Dr. Helms.
Most of the products contained parabens and phthalates (both 78%), UV filters (72%), and cyclosiloxanes (67%).
All products contained at least 1 of 19 targeted fragrances, while “hair lotions, root stimulators, and hair relaxers contained multiple fragrance chemicals per product, with an average of five to eight targeted fragrance chemicals detected per product versus an average of two in the anti-frizz products.”
How do the findings compare with previous research? “They’re roughly consistent with what’s been found before, but potentially on the higher end,” Dr. Helms said. “For some of these chemicals, there’s not a lot of data from the past.”
Most of the chemicals aren’t listed on product labels, Dr. Helm said. “It’s possible that some of the ingredients were unintentionally added as part of manufacturing or other processes.”
Dr. Helm urged physicians to consider the connections between hair care products and chemical exposure. “Maybe there’s an opportunity to use fewer products,” she said.
Dr. Helm acknowledged that it is difficult to find hair care products that don’t include fragrance. She recommends the use of products made from plants or organic ingredients, and she pointed to a Silver Spring Institute–affiliated app called DetoxMe that offers suggestions about reducing chemical exposure from consumer products.
The study was funded by the Rose Foundation, the Goldman Fund, and Hurricane Voices Breast Cancer Foundation. The authors report no relevant disclosures.
SOURCE: Helm JS et al. Environ Res. 2018 Apr 25. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.030.
A new analysis of 18 hair products used by black women finds that they contain 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-associated chemicals, a finding that could help explain why this population suffers from higher rates of chemical exposure and hormone-related health conditions.
“We found multiples of our targeted chemicals in all of our products,” said study lead author Jessica S. Helm, PhD, of the Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Mass., in an interview. “We’re concerned about the additive effect of multiple products being used together.”
According to the study, previous research has found that, compared with white women, U.S. black women have higher urinary levels of chemicals like phthalates and parabens. Black women also have higher rates of asthma and hormone-related health conditions like uterine fibroids and infertility, Dr. Helms said.
The researchers launched their study to better understand the possible role of hair care products in raising chemical levels in black women, Dr. Helm said.
The researchers tested 18 types of hair care products shown by a 2004-2005 survey to be popular among black women: hot oil treatments, anti-frizz products and polishes, leave-in conditioners, root stimulators, hair lotions, and relaxers. Researchers had purchased the products in 2008.
The researchers detected 45 of 66 target chemicals in the samples, including some that are banned in the European Union or regulated in California based on health concerns, according to Dr. Helms.
Most of the products contained parabens and phthalates (both 78%), UV filters (72%), and cyclosiloxanes (67%).
All products contained at least 1 of 19 targeted fragrances, while “hair lotions, root stimulators, and hair relaxers contained multiple fragrance chemicals per product, with an average of five to eight targeted fragrance chemicals detected per product versus an average of two in the anti-frizz products.”
How do the findings compare with previous research? “They’re roughly consistent with what’s been found before, but potentially on the higher end,” Dr. Helms said. “For some of these chemicals, there’s not a lot of data from the past.”
Most of the chemicals aren’t listed on product labels, Dr. Helm said. “It’s possible that some of the ingredients were unintentionally added as part of manufacturing or other processes.”
Dr. Helm urged physicians to consider the connections between hair care products and chemical exposure. “Maybe there’s an opportunity to use fewer products,” she said.
Dr. Helm acknowledged that it is difficult to find hair care products that don’t include fragrance. She recommends the use of products made from plants or organic ingredients, and she pointed to a Silver Spring Institute–affiliated app called DetoxMe that offers suggestions about reducing chemical exposure from consumer products.
The study was funded by the Rose Foundation, the Goldman Fund, and Hurricane Voices Breast Cancer Foundation. The authors report no relevant disclosures.
SOURCE: Helm JS et al. Environ Res. 2018 Apr 25. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.030.
A new analysis of 18 hair products used by black women finds that they contain 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-associated chemicals, a finding that could help explain why this population suffers from higher rates of chemical exposure and hormone-related health conditions.
“We found multiples of our targeted chemicals in all of our products,” said study lead author Jessica S. Helm, PhD, of the Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Mass., in an interview. “We’re concerned about the additive effect of multiple products being used together.”
According to the study, previous research has found that, compared with white women, U.S. black women have higher urinary levels of chemicals like phthalates and parabens. Black women also have higher rates of asthma and hormone-related health conditions like uterine fibroids and infertility, Dr. Helms said.
The researchers launched their study to better understand the possible role of hair care products in raising chemical levels in black women, Dr. Helm said.
The researchers tested 18 types of hair care products shown by a 2004-2005 survey to be popular among black women: hot oil treatments, anti-frizz products and polishes, leave-in conditioners, root stimulators, hair lotions, and relaxers. Researchers had purchased the products in 2008.
The researchers detected 45 of 66 target chemicals in the samples, including some that are banned in the European Union or regulated in California based on health concerns, according to Dr. Helms.
Most of the products contained parabens and phthalates (both 78%), UV filters (72%), and cyclosiloxanes (67%).
All products contained at least 1 of 19 targeted fragrances, while “hair lotions, root stimulators, and hair relaxers contained multiple fragrance chemicals per product, with an average of five to eight targeted fragrance chemicals detected per product versus an average of two in the anti-frizz products.”
How do the findings compare with previous research? “They’re roughly consistent with what’s been found before, but potentially on the higher end,” Dr. Helms said. “For some of these chemicals, there’s not a lot of data from the past.”
Most of the chemicals aren’t listed on product labels, Dr. Helm said. “It’s possible that some of the ingredients were unintentionally added as part of manufacturing or other processes.”
Dr. Helm urged physicians to consider the connections between hair care products and chemical exposure. “Maybe there’s an opportunity to use fewer products,” she said.
Dr. Helm acknowledged that it is difficult to find hair care products that don’t include fragrance. She recommends the use of products made from plants or organic ingredients, and she pointed to a Silver Spring Institute–affiliated app called DetoxMe that offers suggestions about reducing chemical exposure from consumer products.
The study was funded by the Rose Foundation, the Goldman Fund, and Hurricane Voices Breast Cancer Foundation. The authors report no relevant disclosures.
SOURCE: Helm JS et al. Environ Res. 2018 Apr 25. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.030.
Key clinical point: Endocrine-disrupting and asthma-associated chemicals are commonly found in hair care products used by black women.
Major finding: Of the 66 target chemicals, 45 were found in the 18 products tested.
Study details: Analysis of 18 hair care products purchased in 2008.
Disclosures: The study was funded by the Goldman Fund, Hurricane Voices Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Rose Foundation. The authors report no relevant disclosures.
Source: Helm JS et al. Environ Res. 2018 Apr 25. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.030.