A groundbreaking settlement between California’s Attorney General and manufacturers of Brazilian Blowout hair smoothing products that contain a cancer-causing chemical will help protect salon workers and consumers, according to the California Department of Public Health’s Occupational Health Branch. The settlement with the manufacturer of Brazilian Blowout products requires the company to warn consumers and hair stylists that two of its hair smoothing products emit formaldehyde gas, which is known to cause cancer in humans. The company must also cease deceptive advertising; pay $600,000 in fees, penalties and costs; and report the presence of formaldehyde in its products to California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP) (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cosmetics/Pages/default.aspx). The warning requirements are the maximum penalty that could be achieved under state law. The January 2012 settlement stemmed from complaints from hair stylists and customers that the product was causing symptoms, including nose bleeds, burning eyes and throat, skin irritation, and asthma attacks. See http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cosmetics/Documents/BrazilianBlowoutQA.pdf
