According to U.S. National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinigens, formaldehyde causes cancer and styrene is a possible carcinogen. The finding, according to the New York Times:
was delayed for years because of intense lobbying from the chemical industry, which disputed its findings.
According to John Bucher, associate directror of the Program, workers involved in the manufacture of products containing formaldehyde are at greatest risk, but consumers can be exposed to potentially dangerous quantities of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is commonly found in many contemporary building materials, including pressed wood products, paneling, particle board and cabinets.
Styrene is used in the manufacture of plastics and rubber and workers who build boats, manufacture car parts, bathtubs and shower stalls are exposed.
As for your hair, OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – the agency Republicans want to cut by 20% – recently warned in April:
that a hair-care product, Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, contained unacceptable levels of formaldehyde, and salon workers have reported headaches, nosebleeds, burning eyes, vomiting and asthma attacks after using the product and other hair-straighteners.
Really, who needs OSHA?
For those of you who’ve lost your hair, it still pays to be careful. According to Dr. Otis Brawly of the American Cancer Society, formaldehyde is a problem:
It’s the smell in new houses, and it’s in cosmetics like nail polish,” he said. “All a reasonable person can do is manage their exposure and decrease it to as little as possible. It’s everywhere.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/health/11cancer.html
Mickey Friedman