Hair Care Products Contain Potentially Harmful Chemical: Study

A new study shows that hair care products often contain a volatile compound that is not only questionable for human health but also harmful to the environment.

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Many of us use hair care products, but how many of us really know what’s in them?

A new study shows that hair care products often contain a volatile compound called decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, commonly called D5. D5 is used in many personal care products, including deodorants, shampoos, hair gels, hair sprays, skin creams, and makeup. In many countries, especially those in the European Union (EU), the amount that can be used is limited, as the compound has been found in aquatic ecosystems and marine life.

D5 has been found to “lead to adverse effects on the respiratory tract, liver, and nervous system of laboratory animals,” the research team wrote in the study, published in the November issue of Environmental Science & Technology.

The United States, however, is not restricted in its use of D5 in personal care products. This prompted the researchers from Purdue University and Indiana University to determine what, if any, amount of D5 is safe, especially in indoor settings. The results showed that everyday leave-in hair care products expose people to a potentially toxic amount of D5 and that the exposure increases when using appliances like hair straighteners.

The study was conducted in a specially controlled environment at Purdue University called the zero Energy Design Guidance for Engineers (zEDGE). zEDGE is a tiny house that enabled the researchers to control air temperature, humidity, and ventilation in multiple rooms, including the bathroom.

Conducting 46 experiments, researchers had study participants between the ages of 18 and 65 undergo their typical hair care routine within the zEDGE under different air environments. Sometimes, the exhaust fan was on high, sometimes windows were open, and sometimes air was vented to the outside. Initial measurements showed study participants could inhale up to 20 milligrams of D5 per 20-minute hair session in a room without ventilation.

The research team found that individuals with longer hair were exposed to 2.5 to 5.4 more emissions than individuals with short hair. Additionally, if individuals used appliances to heat their hair, exposure increased. The worst offender was hair straighteners, which raised an individual’s exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 145 percent, versus a curling iron, which increased exposure by 65 percent.

To avoid exposure, researchers suggest avoiding the products altogether. If impossible or undesirable, the next best solution would be to run an exhaust fan; researchers noted that turning on a fan could reduce peak exposure by about 70 percent, and the concentration is reduced by up to 95 percent after 20 minutes. However, even using a fan comes with pitfalls.

Unfortunately, as researchers noted, exposure didn’t stop with the person who coifed their hair. Depending on the ventilation system, other people, including those outdoors and in urban environments, could be at risk for exposure to VOCs, namely D5.

The Chemicals Accumulate

While past research notes that wash-off products containing D5 are nontoxic to humans, animals, or aquatic organisms, buildup of the silicone-based chemical can occur. The EU has strictly limited the chemical because of how much it accumulates in the water. The concern is that it will bioaccumulate through the food chain once built up in water.