The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a hazard alert on April 11 warning hair salon owners and workers about potential exposure to formaldehyde from using some hair smoothing and straightening products, including the Brazilian Blowout brand. (Formaldehyde helps bind keratin to hair, straightening it.) Responding to complaints from workers, OSHA found evidence of dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in the air of salons using these hair-straightening products -- even though the products are often listed as "formaldehyde free." The agency also found evidence of allergic reactions by workers and clients to the products, including nosebleeds and eye irritation. (More on Time.com: See photos of strange beauty pageants) Formaldehyde has been identified as human carcinogen by many countries and scientific institutions Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/13/warning-getting-your-hair-straightened-could-be-hazardous-to-your-health/#ixzz1L3cRnPo8
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