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HRD-78-22 1 (1977-12-06)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaawig0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



                         DnCUMENT F1SU a

04i296 - [B34114669] (Restricted)                21

Cancer and Coal Tar Hair Dyes: AD Unregulated Hazard to
Consumers. HRD-78-22; B-164031(2). December 6, 1977. 20 pp.

Report to Rep. John E. Moss, Chairuan, House Committee on
Interstate and Foreigp Commerce: Oversight and Investigations
SubcoL'4ittee; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.

Issue Area: Consumer and Worker Prctection: Identification of
    Hazardous Consumer Products (909).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget Function: Health: Preventiou and Control of Health
    Problems (553).
Organization Concerned: Department of Health, Education, and
    Welfare; Food and Drug Administration: Div. of Cosmetics
    Techntilogy; National Institutes of Health: National Cancer
    Inst.; National Inst. fur Occupational Safety and Health;
    Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Interstate and
    Foreign Commerce: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
Authority: Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (21
    U.S.C. 301 et seq.). P.L. 86-618. 28 C.F.R. 6439. 36 C.F.R.
    16902. Toilet Goods Association v. Finch (419 F.2d 21
    (1969)

         About 33 million women use hair dyes to temporarily or
permanently change their hair color. most dyes marketed for use
by women are known Fs coal tar hair dyes because initially coal
tar was the only comw,.rcially practical source of material
needed to synthesize the colors used in them. Most coal tar hair
dyes contain colors derived from ietroleum rather than coal tar.
Because a color chemically identical to the petroleum-derived
color could be derived from coal tar, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) classifies petroleum-derived colors as coal
tar colors and regulates hair dyes containing them accordingly.
Coal tar hair dyes whose labeling contains a prescribed
statutory warning concerning possible skin irritation and
blindness are exempt from Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
provisions concerning adulteration, bat they are not exempt from
misbranding provisions of the act. Findings/Ccnclusions:
Exemptions in the act do not permit FDA to regulate coal tar
hair dye products effectively; they bar the agency from banning
or restricting the use of cancer-causing coal tar hair dyes.
Although coal tar hair dyes are subject to FDA labeling
requirements, the agency hao not used this authority to require
a cancer warning cn labels of dyes containing known human or
animal carcinoqens. Colors known to cause or suspected of
causing cancer reportedly are being used in all three types of
coal tar hair dyes. Data indicate that the cancer-causing coal
tar hair colors may be absorbed through the skin and scalp.
Colors that may be used in some temporary and semipermanent hair
dyes are derived from benzidine, a known carcinogen; they may be

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