Thread by @dqasci, This @nytimes piece on formaldehyde in Brazilian Blowout is a great weekend [...]

This @nytimes piece on formaldehyde in Brazilian Blowout is a great weekend read
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/health/brazilian-blowout-formaldehyde-fda.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/2... @RoniNYTimes

Thanks to the FOIA from @MelanieBenesh

We have been working on this for over a decade and it is infuriating

The F.D.A. Wanted to Ban Some Hair Straighteners. It Never Happened.

In 2016, agency scientists deemed hair straighteners containing formaldehyde to be unsafe, according to newly obtained emails.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/health/brazilian-blowout-formaldehyde-fda.html

Back in 2010 I started digging because the owner of @brazilianblowout made a few statements about their products having almost no formaldehyde

“Let them know that an apple has twice as much. Broccoli has like 4 times as much. Just broccoli.”

I love good chemistry problems

This one was easy. It is total BS.

and I spent months researching hair chemistry and products on the market.

That research is in the report I wrote @ewg in 2011 https://www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/executive-summary/">https://www.ewg.org/hair-stra...

The products were(are?) about 1/3rd formaldehyde+water or formalin

I even bought an empty bottle with the totally false "formaldehyde free" claims on it

Hell, even the @AmChemistry chemical trade association put out a press release that this was total BS.

https://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/PressReleasesTranscripts/ACC-news-releases/ACC-Issues-Position-on-the-Formaldehyde-Content-of-Some-Popular-Hair-Smoothing-Products.html

It">https://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/Pre... took a few years for the cosmetics industry funded @CIRonline to get there but they did

ACC Issues Position on the Formaldehyde Content of Some Popular Hair-Smoothing Products

Contact Bryan Goodman, 202 249 6510 Email bryan_goodman@americ...

https://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/PressReleasesTranscripts/ACC-news-releases/ACC-Issues-Position-on-the-Formaldehyde-Content-of-Some-Popular-Hair-Smoothing-Products.html

We wrote a section header

FDA overlooking slam-dunk chance to champion cosmetics safety

https://www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/who-dropped-the-ball-policy-gaps-and-unsafe-products/">https://www.ewg.org/hair-stra...

What makes me extra angry is that I had to work on this at all.

This awesome piece in @Allure_magazine tested products and alerted @US_FDA in 2008.

The new NYTimes piece and internal FDA emails sheds some light on why nothing ever seems to happen

In 2012 the chief executive of Brazilian Blowout told the @nytimes "We get to sell the product forever without reformulation"

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/business/brazilian-blowout-agrees-to-a-4-5-million-settlement.html

It">https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/0... is generally true that regulation never happens but forever is a long time ... and @ewg doesn& #39;t forget ..

Maker of a Hair-Straightening Product Settles Lawsuit (Published 2012)

After government inquiries and health complaints, the maker of Brazilian Blowout agreed to warn consumers that its product emits formaldehyde gas.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/business/brazilian-blowout-agrees-to-a-4-5-million-settlement.html

This year @LittleEWG led the effort to pass legislation in CA to ensure toxic ingredients could not be used in cosmetics. That includes some pfas and

no more formaldehyde https://www.ewg.org/release/california-first-state-ban-24-toxic-chemicals-personal-care-products-and-cosmetics">https://www.ewg.org/release/c...

California First State To Ban 24 Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care

In a major victory for the movement for safer cosmetics, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, Assembly Bill 2762, into law. This is the nation’s first state-level ban

https://www.ewg.org/release/california-first-state-ban-24-toxic-chemicals-personal-care-products-and-cosmetics

I wish that was the end of the story, but probably not.

There are alternative chemicals that can be used that release formaldehyde on heating.

Our 2011 report referenced testing from an Australian company that reformulated to be nearly formaldehyde free yet on heating it was as bad

https://www.ewg.org/hair-straighteners/our-report/how-to-get-straight-hair-whats-the-best-option/">https://www.ewg.org/hair-stra...

Latest Threads Unrolled: