The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet proposed its expected ban on formaldehyde in hair products, which was due in April 2024.
Jonathan Franklin reports for NPR.
In short:
- The FDA initially announced the ban in October 2023 due to the chemical's cancer risks, particularly for Black women using hair straightening products.
- Despite the looming April deadline, the FDA cited ongoing development as a reason for the delay without providing specific details on the rule’s content.
- Research has linked frequent use of hair straighteners containing formaldehyde to an increased risk of several cancers among women.
Key quote:
"We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would develop uterine cancer by age 70; but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%."
— Alexandra White, lead author and of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group
Why this matters:
Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is still found in many hair products. This delay in regulation poses ongoing health risks, especially to women who frequently use these products, such as women of color.
