Formaldehyde Is Unsafe In Hair Straighteners

Formaldehyde Is Unsafe In Hair Straighteners

At its 120th meeting in Washington, DC in September, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR) reached its final conclusion on the safety of formaldehyde and methylene glycol as used in hair straightening products and found them to be unsafe under present conditions of use.

CIR, an independent, non-profit body of scientific and medical experts that assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics in the US, initiated the review at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, the Professional Beauty Association and the Personal Care Products Council (the Council).

The panel noted that the safety of methylene glycol and formaldehyde in hair straightening products depends on a number of factors, including the concentration of formaldehyde and methylene glycol, the amount of product applied, the temperature used during the application process, and the ventilation provided at the point of use. The panel concluded that under present practices of use and concentration, formaldehyde and methylene glycol are unsafe in hair straightening products.

“CIR reached its conclusion after a comprehensive review of the available safety data and information and a robust discussion of this difficult and complex issue. We support the panel’s findings,” said Jay Ansell, Council scientist and vice president of cosmetic programs.

The panel also concluded that formaldehyde and methylene glycol are safe for use as preservatives in cosmetics at minimal effective concentration levels and that they do not exceed established limits and are safe in nail hardening products in the present practices of use and concentration.

Candle Recalls For Dollar Tree, Katie Brown The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with retailer Dollar Tree Stores Inc., Chesapeake, VA, and importer Greenbrier International Inc., Chesapeake, VA, have voluntarily recalled approximately 117,000 glass votive candleholders. According to the CPSC, the glass votive candleholders can shatter while in use, posing a fire and laceration hazard to consumers. The firm has received one report of the glass votive candleholder shattering. No injuries have been reported. This recall involves frosted or clear glass votive candleholders with French vanilla scented candles. The votive candleholders are 2 1/2 inches tall. Model number 976127 and date code 1010 are printed on the bottom of the glass votive candleholder. The SKUs were sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Deal$ and Dollar Tree Deal$ stores nationwide from December 2010 through April 2011. They were manufactured in India. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission also announced a voluntary recall of Katie Brown 12-piece tea light candle sets from Meijer Inc., of Grand Rapids, MI. Approximately 7,600 units are involved in the recall. The clear plastic candleholder can ignite, posing a serious burn and fire hazard to consumers. Meijer has received one report of the resin cup catching fire and melting. No injuries or property damage have been reported. The recalled wax tea light candles in clear plastic holders were sold in five different colors/ scents: vanilla, spruce, snappy spice, sunny tuscany and sweet love. Model numbers are 50181MKB, 50182MKB, 50183MKB, 50184MKB and 50185MKB printed on the bottom of the tea light holder. The wax tea light candles measure approximately 2 inches in diameter. The Katie Brown logo is printed on the clear packaging cover of the tea lights. Printed on a label on the bottom of each 12-piece pack of tea light candles is “Distributed by Wholesale Merchandisers, Inc. 2929 Walker Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544. Made in India.” The products were sold exclusively at Meijer Stores in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana from October 2010 through March 2011 for approximately $8. More info: www.dollartree.com, www.meijer.com

NSF International Expands Standards
NSF International’s American National Standard for Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients (NSF/ANSI 305) has been expanded to allow plant-based ingredients that are certified to European Union (EU) organic regulations.As a result, companies formulating personal care products for compliance with the NSF/ANSI 305 Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients standard are now able to source from both US National Organic Program (NOP)-certified ingredients and EU-certified ingredients suppliers.

The NSF/ANSI 305 standard promotes the widespread use of organic agriculture beyond the food sector. Similar to USDA NOP regulations, the NSF/ANSI 305 standard defines labeling and marketing requirements but specifically for personal care products (e.g. oral care and personal hygiene products) that contain organic ingredients. It also establishes requirements for agricultural ingredients and methods of extraction based on the final product’s label claim. EU organic regulations EC 834/2007 & EC 889/2008 define requirements on organic production and labeling of organic products.

NSF/ANSI 305 is the only consensus-based standard for personal care products containing organic ingredients. The American National Standard was developed based on balanced participation from key stakeholder groups including: regulators, personal care manufacturers, trade associations, product retailers and other stakeholders from the organic and personal care products communities.

“NSF/ANSI 305 opens up new growth opportunities for personal care companies whose products contain organic ingredients and speaks to the globalization of the cosmetic supply chain. Allowing equivalent EU-certified ingredients will harmonize NSF/ANSI 305 with global organic production without any loss of organic integrity,” said Jane Wilson, standards director of NSF International, a US standards development, testing and certification organization committed to protecting the environment and public health.

With the increasing interest of global harmonization, companies certified to other international standards, such as the NaTrue European standard, will move closer to complying with NSF/ANSI 305. Companies which certify their products to the NSF standard demonstrate to consumers, retailers, health care practitioners and regulators that certified products have been independently evaluated to meet the standard requirements.

The NSF/ANSI 305 personal care logo identifies personal care products that have achieved certification to the standard.

Aiming to provide a standardized way to define and report the environmental and human health hazards associated with a chemical product and its manufacturing process impacts, NSF and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) also recently developed an American National Standard, NSF/GCI/ANSI (American National Standards Institute) 355 Greener Chemicals and Processes Information Standard.

California Bans Tanning Beds for Teens
California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Senate Bill 746, which prohibits minors from using tanning beds. The legislation makes California the first state in the US to have such a ban on the practice for those under the age of 18.

Studies show that exposure to UV radiation from artificial tanning devices is associated with a 75% increased risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and non-melanoma skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, according to a statement by the Governor’s office. Nearly 30 million people in the US, including 2.3 million teens, use tanning booths annually despite warnings from public health agencies about their potential to cause skin cancer.

“California is expected to have 8,250 new cases of melanoma in 2011, or approximately 12% of the estimated 70,000 cases nationwide,” said dermatologist Ann F. Haas, MD, FAAD, past president of the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery.

“Melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for the last 30 years, but have been growing most rapidly—3% per year—since 1992 among young women ages 15 to 39. We encourage other states to follow California’s lead and help slow the
incidence of potentially deadly skin cancer by prohibiting the use of commercial tanning devices by minors,” added Haas.

SB 746 replaces the current law, which requires 14-17 year olds to obtain parental permission to use a tanning bed. Currently, children under 14 are prohibited from using tanning beds. The new bill will take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

ACI Adds Ferrer, Ugur As Its Latest Industry Experts
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) added depth to its scientific and information technology expertise with two new appointments: Darci Ferrer as science program coordinator and Ugur Usumi as director, information technology.

Ferrer joins ACI from Loyola University, Baltimore, MD, where she was a laboratory technician in the biology department. She recently completed a Master of Science degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Usumi brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to ACI as director of information technology, as he will provide expertise to support the association’s new website, membership database and other computer and information services. He previously served as director of information technologies for AMIDEAST, INC., an international non-profit organization providing educational and training services and scholarship programs; and vice president at IMEX/OMNI Intl., a company that developed financial software for custom manufacturers.

The Council Relaunches Its Online Bookstore
The Council recently launched a new revamped online bookstore. The new interface allows users to purchase Council publications online and also features a number of PDF publications available for immediate download once the purchase is completed.

Titles include:
Compilation of Ingredients Used in Cosmetics in the United States;
International Buyers’ Guide;
Guideline for Industry: The Stability Testing of Cosmetic Products;
Quality Metrics Benchmark Survey.