There are many dangerous workplaces in Kentucky and the rest of the country, but would you imagine a hair salon to be one of them?

A popular line of salon hair straightening products called Brazilian Blowout has been deemed a carcinogenic by the FDA, and its manufacturers are now required to warn the public about the hazards of this dangerous product.

The salon treatments, which can cost up to $500 each, have been found to release formaldehyde gas, which can not only cause cancer, but also irritate mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and mouth.

Following the intervention of two government regulatory agencies, Brazilian Blowout products must now include warning labels, letting the public know about the products' toxicity. The company that produces Brazilian Blowout has also agreed to pay more than $600,000 in fines and create safety pamphlets for distribution to salons that use the product.

Lab testing indicated that the products contain between 8.7 percent and 10.4 percent formaldehyde. Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, hazardous labeling is required for any substance containing more than 0.1 percent.

Reports surfaced as early as September 2010 that health problems were resulting from the products' use, including eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, fainting, breathing concerns, chest pain, vomiting and rash.

Since then, OSHA and the FDA worked together to address the issue as OSHA has authority over workplace safety and the FDA governs product labeling. The California state attorney general's office also brought a lawsuit against the product's manufacturer.

Brazilian Blowout products require the hairstylist to apply the formaldehyde-laden product to hair, subsequently blow-drying and flat-ironing the hair to give it a straighter look. Celebrities such as Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry have reportedly used the treatment.

Source: Miami Herald, "Brazilian Blowout hair treatment ruled carcinogenic," John Platt, Feb. 6, 2012