HAIR-DYE WARNING

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 6

HAIR-DYE WARNING

Cancer link possible (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) » LONDON, April A British scientist says that some hair dyes might cause cancer, and should be withdrawn from sale. His tests indicate that two hair dyes can cause leukemia, a form of cancer, inf mice, and that many others; caused undesirable changes I in the ceils, which might be[ linked with cancer. Dr Charles Searle, of the: department of cancer stud-; i ies, at Birmingham Univer- j sity, said that he had‘ applied diluted solutions of [ itwo brands of “semi-per-i [manent” hair dyes to hun■dreds of mice. ' In one batch, 6 per cent developed leukemia; in the other,. 9 per cent were affected. ‘‘This raises some doubt ias to their safety. Some haz-l iard is involved, though it is! [probably small compared toj [smoking,” said Dr Searle. j “I think it would be sen-1 sible to withdraw them from; sale. I think it should be possible to find dyes without the same doubt hanging over them.” The suspect ingredients : are colouring compounds I called nitrophenylenediam- ' ines. The worst offenders i were preparations which give the hair a golden or reddish tinge. In another series of tests 'by Dr Stanley Venitt. of the | Institute of Cancer Research. 16 hair dyes were bought at random from shops. Nine [were found to be mutagenic i— they changed the way cells reproduced.