Despite previous violations, a tortilla manufacturer is still failing to provide employees exposed to corrosive chemicals with emergency eyewashes and is still not monitoring them for formaldehyde exposure.
Three members of Congress are taking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to task over what they say is a lack of progress on formaldehyde-laden Brazilian Blowout and other hair-straightening products that have caused health problems in stylists.
Wives of exposed men have higher rates of reproductive problems
May 15, 2012
Occupational exposure to formaldehyde in Chinese men may be linked to reduced fertility, reports a paper in the May Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
Stylists didn't know about formaldehyde gas, didn't take precautions
February 5, 2012
California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris reached a settlement with the manufacturer of Brazilian Blowout hair straightening products that will require the company to warn California consumers and hair stylists that two of its most popular hair smoothing products emit formaldehyde gas.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is taking aim at a National Resources Defense Council (blog) that accuses the chemical industry of having undue influence over Congress, particularly in actions related to the assessment and classification of chemicals like formaldehyde and styrene.
Congress is "taking its direction on science and environmental health policy from the chemical industry, rather than independent scientists who lack a financial interest in the question of whether some chemicals can cause cancer and other health problems."
OSHA has issued a revised hazard alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with certain hair smoothing and straightening products.