Organizations Support CIR Review of Formaldehyde/Methylene Glycol Safety

Posted: May 20, 2011

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John Bailey, chief scientist of the Personal Care Product Council's responded in a press statement, saying, "Safe and proper use depends largely on the ventilation in the salon and the application procedure. For this reason, we strongly advise consumers and beauticians not to use professional hair straightening products in the home. Consumers who do visit a salon to receive hair-smoothing treatments by a trained salon worker should be certain that the salon is properly ventilated and that the products and application process meet the safety guidelines set by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is responsible for regulating workplace safety. OSHA has established limits for safe levels of inhalation exposure to formaldehyde gas."

He added that the council urges the FDA to work expeditiously with OSHA and appropriate state and local organizations to "objectively determine if salon hair smoothing products emit levels of formaldehyde gas that are unsafe for consumers or salon workers under their intended conditions of use and taking into consideration salon ventilation practices." The group further recommend that the FDA take prompt and appropriate action to ensure these products have been fully tested and substantiated for safety under their given conditions of use.

In its response statement, the ICMAD wrote, We support the work of OSHA, its state counterparts in ensuring compliance with worker safety and hazard communication rules, and the work of FDA in ensuring that the safety of these products is substantiated and the labeling is compliant.