Not less than five Black women are suing the manufacturers of hair relaxers, claiming that they developed cancer after years of using the products.
According to reports by NBC news, the women used chemical hair relaxers for decades after a while they noticed changes in their hair and health.
Some of the chemicals used in formulating these hair-straightening products such as Formaldehyde are now linked to increased risk of cancer according to multiple studies.
A study from the International Journal of Cancer shows that chemical hair straighteners can increase the risk of hormone related cancers in women including Breast, Ovarian, Uterine and Endometrial which all of the five women have experienced.
One of the women who was diagnosed with with Endometrial cancer at 37 said “it made me feel like my womanhood was taken from me because I couldn’t have children.”
They are now taking legal action joining a growing number of other women around the country suing several companies.
Several companies being sued say the allegations have no legal or scientific merit.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration had earlier proposed a ban on the use of Formaldehyde in products in April.
However, the deadline was missed and the proposed ban has been scheduled for July.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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