Your wig might be poisoning you: examine finds pesticides and different poisonous chemical compounds in artificial hair in Nigeria

Owerri: Effectively-groomed hair is an emblem of magnificence for a lot of black African ladies. Pure hair requires particular care and a focus, although, which will be time consuming. Wigs (human or artificial hair), weave-ons and different synthetic hair extensions provide ladies a substitute for their pure hair.

In Nigeria, these alternate options are very fashionable with ladies, each younger and previous. The artificial hair worth chain is a giant enterprise price tens of millions of {dollars} and run by each native and international industries. Hairdressing salons flourish, offering styling and grooming providers for ladies.

However we’ve discovered that there are contaminants hiding in artificial hair. Man-made fibres undergo varied chemical processes to make them feel and appear extra like human hair. The uncooked supplies used to make among the merchandise are poisonous. And the hair merchandise are primarily comprised of plastics which aren’t biodegradable, which is dangerous to the atmosphere.

In our examine in Nigeria, we investigated 10 artificial hair manufacturers generally worn by ladies. Some had been made in Nigeria, others in China, Ghana and the USA. We discovered that each one of them had totally different ranges of contaminants similar to silver, cadmium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and lead, together with a number of pesticides that are hazardous to human well being.

Artificial hair is normally worn near the scalp. Ladies who put on it ought to pay attention to the potential hurt.

Regulators ought to be sure that producers of artificial hair cease utilizing plastic-based artificial merchandise and use pure plant fibres and protein blends as a substitute. These hair fibres are biodegradable and free from dangerous chemical compounds.

Our examine We purchased 10 well-liked artificial hair manufacturers of varied colors (Catherine, Eye Sweet, Gold, Calypso, LVH, Dazzler, Mini Bob, Nectar, Diana and X-pression) from the Ariaria Worldwide market in Aba, in south-eastern Abia State.

The samples had been analysed in a laboratory.

We used the US Commonplace Strategies for the Examination of Water and Wastewater to find out the presence of heavy metals (similar to cadmium, zinc, lead, chromium, manganese, iron, mercury, copper and nickel) within the artificial hair.

We discovered heavy metals in vital quantities. One among them, lead, is utilized in stabilising the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that the artificial hair is product of. Lead compounds (similar to primary lead carbonate, lead stearate and lead phthalate) stop warmth, gentle or put on and tear from breaking down the PVC, and make it simpler to type into shapes.

Lead is harmful to people, nonetheless. It impacts the membranes, DNA, and antioxidant defence programs of cells. Lead additionally interferes with the conventional growth of a kid’s mind and nervous system.

The metals which might be used to stabilise the polymer usually are not sure to it. They’ll leach out over time or when uncovered to gentle. So, when ladies put on artificial hair, whether or not as attachments, weave-ons or wigs, on their heads or as faux eyelashes, they threat publicity to steer and different heavy metals. That is the case for all artificial hair manufacturers comprised of plastics.

In people, publicity to heavy metals is related to varied organic dangers similar to harm to the kidneys, liver, lungs, reproductive system and nervous system. It has additionally been related to most cancers, pores and skin irritations, bronchial asthma and cardiovascular ailments.

We discovered additionally that the artificial hair samples had been contaminated with 11 chemical compounds that are pesticides. The degrees of those chemical compounds discovered within the hair exceeded permissible limits, making them harmful to well being.

Since they had been current in vital quantities, we suspect they had been used as a type of preservative by the producers.

We additionally discovered excessive ranges of nitrate within the hair samples we studied. This has not been reported in earlier research on artificial hair. Publicity to excessive ranges of nitrate can result in ailments similar to most cancers, enlargement of the thyroid gland and methemoglobinemia (a blood dysfunction).

Why this issues Publicity to the poisonous chemical compounds that we present in artificial hair can have critical well being penalties. Aside from harm to important organs, they’ll trigger infertility, delivery defects, bronchial asthma, bronchitis and cancers. In addition they result in consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction, endocrine system disruption and respiratory ailments, amongst others.

Individuals who put on artificial hair ought to contemplate these dangers, particularly as chemical substances and heavy metals will be dangerous even at low ranges.

Since Nigeria has massive artificial hair producers in Lagos, the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management ought to continually overview and consider the protection of the chemical elements utilized in making these merchandise.

Artificial hair producers do produce other choices. They’ll use prime quality artificial fibres similar to hiperlon as a substitute of plastic fibres. They need to use fibres which might be free from PVC and poisonous supplies, and go for environmentally pleasant ones.