in products frequently used by black women, so we can better understand what’s driving some of the health issues they’re facing,” she added in an institute news release.
Helm and her colleagues analyzed 18 different hair products used by black women, including hot oil treatments, anti-frizz hair polishes, leave-in conditioners, root stimulators, hair lotions and hair relaxers.
A total of 45 endocrine disruptors were detected in the products, with each product containing between six and 30 of the chemicals. In past studies these endocrine disruptors have been associated with a variety of ills such as asthma, reproductive disorders, birth defects and cancer, the researchers said.
Eleven products contained seven chemicals prohibited in the European Union or regulated under California’s Proposition 65. Hair relaxers marketed for children had the highest levels of five such chemicals, the report said.
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Parabens, fragrances, nonylphenols and diethyl phthalate were widely found in root stimulators, hair lotions, and hair relaxers, while cyclosiloxanes were more often detected in anti-frizz products.
All the products contained fragrance chemicals, and 78 percent contained parabens. Eighty-four percent of the chemicals detected were not
