Two members of the US House of Representatives, who pushed the Food and Drug Administration in 2023 to investigate the health risks of hair straighteners used primarily by black women, are now asking the agency why. twice late its target date propose a ban on products containing formaldehydestudies have linked to increased rates of cancer.
Democratic Representatives Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Shontel Brown of Ohio pressed the FDA. letter to finalize the proposed rule to ban certain salon-level and at-home hair straighteners. Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York joined Pressley and Brown in drafting Tuesday’s letter.
The FDA has warned of a possible rule in 2023, with an initial target date of publishing the proposal in April. It was then moved to July before jumping to September.
The letter from Pressley, Brown and Velazquez — all up for re-election this year — asks FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to provide specific reasons for the delay.
Pressley told The Associated Press that black women are looking at corrective treatments partly due to hair discrimination.
“If you do a Google search for unprofessional business hairstyles right now, you’re going to be bombarded with images of Black women,” said Pressley, who believes another delay could lead to more health problems for communities of color. “Everything from protective styles, Senegalese twists and braids like I’ve worn for years, or afros or locs … I just want everyone to be able to express themselves fully, authentically and unapologetically without fear or discrimination.”
It is not unusual for the FDA to have items on its regulatory agenda for years. For example, a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes came out in 2022, but the target date for finalizing the rule has been pushed back twice. postponed indefinitely in April.
When asked about the letter, an FDA spokesman told the AP that agency officials would respond directly to lawmakers. The agency said last month that the proposed ban was still among its top priorities and was in the rulemaking process, but could not comment to the AP on the timing or content of the proposal.
Black women and women of other ethnicities have been using chemical hair straightening treatments for decades, and many relaxers, creams and keratin treatments contain formaldehyde – a chemical used in pesticides and to preserve dead bodies.
A 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health found that people who use hair straighteners have an increased risk of cervical cancer. A 2023 study at Boston University found that postmenopausal women who used the most relaxants had a more than 50% increased risk. childhood cancer compared to those who rarely use it.
Thousands of lawsuits allege that beauty companies that make some hair straighteners misrepresented the products’ “health effects” and exposed plaintiffs to chemicals that increase the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. Some also claim to experience infertility after using the products.
a video from October on social mediaThe FDA reminded people that there is no ban yet and that the agency plans to work with the cosmetics industry and encourage them to develop alternative corrective products.
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