If you're going to drink wine with your hair coloring it's nice to know that if you do get WINE in your eye(s) you won't go blind - if it's a nice wine, that is.
Mike
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/hair-dyes
"....Although some studies have linked the personal use of hair dyes with increased risks of certain cancers of the blood and bone marrow, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and leukemia, other studies have not shown such links. Studies of breast and bladder cancer have also produced conflicting results. Relatively few studies have been published about the association of hair dye use with the risk of other cancers (4). Based on its review of the evidence, IARC concluded that personal use of hair dyes is "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans" (5).
# What is the evidence that personal hair dye use is associated with risk of NHL?
A number of studies have investigated the relationship between the personal use of hair dyes and the risk of NHL, with inconsistent results. Because the small size of some studies may have limited their ability to detect associations, a pooled (combined) analysis of four case-control studies was carried out (6). All four studies had obtained detailed information on hair dye use, including dates and duration of use, and on NHL subtype. The pooled analysis included 4,461 women with NHL and 5,799 women who did not have NHL. The results of the study showed that women who began using hair dye before 1980 had a slightly (30 percent) increased risk of NHL compared with women who had never used hair dye, whereas no such increase in risk was seen for women who began using hair dye after 1980.
When the researchers analyzed the risks of several specific NHL subtypes, they found that hair dye users had increased risks of both follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (6). For the most part, the increases were limited to women who began using hair dye before 1980, although an increased risk of follicular lymphoma was observed among women who began using dark-colored dyes after 1980. Although these results are consistent with the idea that earlier hair dyes were more carcinogenic, it is also possible that the absence of increased risk for hair dye users who began using dyes after 1980 reflects lower cumulative exposure levels or insufficient time since first exposure for any increase in risk to become apparent.
# What is the evidence that personal hair dye use is associated with risk of leukemia?
Studies of the association between personal hair dye use and the risk of leukemia have had conflicting results. For example, one case-control study examined hair dye use among 769 patients with adult acute leukemia and 623 people without leukemia in the United States and Canada (7). It found that the risks of acute leukemia were higher among users of earlier formulations of both permanent and nonpermanent (i.e., semipermanent and temporary) dyes than among those who had not used dyes, although the increases were not statistically significant. No risk increases were seen among users of more recent dye formulations. Risk was greatest among those who had used permanent dyes for longer durations (15 or more years).
However, a case-control study in Italy found no association between use of permanent hair dye overall and risk of leukemia, although users of black permanent dyes, but not of other color dyes, did have an increased risk. This study, however, did not collect information on the timing or frequency of hair dye use (8).
# What is the evidence that personal hair dye use is associated with risks of other cancers?
Research on personal hair dye use and risks of bladder and breast cancer has produced conflicting results. Data from multiple studies have been pooled as a way of analyzing the risks of these cancers among hair dye users.
An analysis of pooled data from 12 studies of bladder cancer and hair dye use published between 1977 and 2006 found no evidence that personal use of hair dyes is associated with increased risk of bladder cancer (9).
Researchers who reviewed data from 14 studies of female breast cancer and hair dye use published between 1977 and 2002 found that dye users had no increase in the risk of breast cancer compared with nonusers (4).
Research on hair dye use and the risks of other cancers is more limited. Although some studies have shown associations between hair dye use and risk of developing or dying from specific cancers, these associations have not been seen in other studies. Because of differences in study design, it has not been possible to pool the results of studies of most cancers.
# Where can a person find more information about hair dyes?
Information about specific hair dye ingredients is available from the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a Federal interagency program coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NTP's Web site is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov on the Internet.
The NTP's Report on Carcinogens identifies agents, substances, or chemical mixtures that cause or might cause cancer in humans. The Eleventh Report on Carcinogens can be searched online at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc on the Internet. CDs of the Report can be ordered by contacting the NTP at:
Address: Report on Carcinogens
Post Office Box 12233, MD K2-14
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709"
Sheesh Bill....stealing wax from those poor defenseless turtles. Couldn't you at least pick on somebody your own size? I'm pretty sure Alligator wax would do just as well.
susan you are totaly right about the darker dye, also being a stylist, i have been exsposed to types of lung cancer, especially from what they call low dusting bleach, the kind you get your highlighting,s from ,oh well,by the way my color choice has always been the no 5 6 7 all the ones they say are not good, i guess when i die i hope i have had a fresh root job or i will be coming back to haunt someone. so stick with the blonde shades or highlighting your safest bet thanks for your words of wisdom, i never thought about exsposer in that way, although i had a blood transfussion in a army hospital late 70,s thanks again mary ann
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks for your input about those studies.
I was aware of the bladder cancer issue, as well as a lead poisoning one.
Are the darker dyes more problematic? (I don't use Grecian Formula and do go lighter!)
I wonder if a colorist is at greater risk (if there is a risk) than the client who pops in every six or eight weeks?
Do you think the 'professional' products could be safer or not?
Here's this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_coloring
"Health concerns
There is ongoing debate regarding more serious health consequences that may result from use of hair coloring.
Recent publications regarding the dangers of hair tints include:
An FDA study that found lead acetate (the active ingredient in gradual darkening products such as Grecian formula) to be potentially toxic.[3][4]
Articles that link the development of some forms of cancer (including leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder cancer, blood cancer, and multiple myeloma) with use of hair color.[5][6][7] More specifically, prolonged use of permanent dark hair dyes can actually double a person's risk of getting various types of blood cancer.[8]
Recently a known human carcinogen, 4-Aminobiphenyl or 4-ABP, was found in some hair dyes that you can get off the shelf.[9] "
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Geez, I can't see myself giving up my highlights, ever.
Susan
Oh and ammonia - which let's hope nobody is taking internally or drinking. It would appear your liver can convert the small small small amount that might be able to get into your eyes easily enough.
Ammonia also plays a role in both normal and abnormal animal physiology. Ammonia is biosynthesised through normal amino acid metabolism and is toxic in high concentrations.[51] The liver converts ammonia to urea through a series of reactions known as the urea cycle.