U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), today released the following statement after a CAPAC sponsored briefing on the health risks posed to workers in nail and hair salons.
“In California, there are over 83,500 manicurists, and an estimated 80% are Vietnamese immigrant women who are trying to support their families with jobs that don’t require advanced English skills. Yet even as the nail salon industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past ten years, the oversight of cosmetic products remain decades out of date. Many of the products that workers handle have chemicals linked to cancer, respiratory illnesses, and reproductive harm. At a salon safety briefing on Wednesday co-hosted by CAPAC, we heard stories of chronic headaches, muscle pain, and miscarriages. We heard from a salon owner who was exposed on a daily basis to popular ‘Brazilian Blowout’ hair-straightening product which is under investigation for having chemicals linked to a known carcinogen.
“People’s health should not be needlessly put at risk by dangerous chemicals in cosmetics. That is why as Chair of CAPAC, I am supporting the Safe Cosmetics Act, which would give the FDA regulatory authority over cosmetics and personal care products. Congress should move to swiftly adopt this legislation.”
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