Scientists: Chemicals in hair extensions may increase breast cancer risk
According to the results of the largest study in this field, wigs and hair extensions worn by millions of women worldwide contain chemicals linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, hormonal disruptions, and harm to reproductive health, writes the BBC.
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Scientists have found almost 50 dangerous chemicals in virtually all tested samples of various products made from synthetic and natural hair, including wigs, hair for braiding, clip-in and sew-in extensions, and clip-on pieces.
These findings, published in the journal of the American Chemical Society, have prompted calls for stricter control over this multi-billion dollar industry and increased informational transparency for consumers.
"We trust companies from which no one even demands the exclusion of dangerous chemicals from their products," says Dr. Alesia Franklin, lead author of the study and a research scientist at the American "Silent Spring" Institute, which studies the impact of the environment on breast cancer risk.
According to scientists, hair extensions are particularly dangerous because they are worn for a long time and are in constant contact with the skin.
Dangerous Chemicals
After studying 43 samples, researchers found 170 different chemicals in them. For analysis, they used a method that allows detecting a wide range of substances, rather than focusing on just one.
48 of them are included in major international lists of hazardous chemicals, including lists compiled by the UN and the European Chemicals Agency.
"Everything was there: from flame retardants to pesticides, as well as substances like phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors and are known to be linked to reproductive system impairment," says Franklin.
In 36 hair extension samples — both synthetic and natural — 17 chemicals linked to breast cancer were found, and almost 10% of samples contained dangerous tin-containing compounds, commonly used in the production of flame-retardant plastics.
Scientists say they were surprised to find tin-containing compounds, which are not usually found in consumer goods. These substances can cause skin irritation. They are known as endocrine disruptors and interfere with hormones that regulate many bodily processes, including those responsible for development and reproductive capacity.
Researchers claim that these chemicals provoke biological changes similar to those caused by known breast carcinogens, and over time can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
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