The Safety of Lead-Containing Grey Hair Colorants By Expert Author: Dody Gasparik \| Article Abstract
Word Count: 456 words \| Views: 383 view(s)

Lead is one of mankind’s oldest used metals. Lead and its compounds have been employed for thousands of yeas in diverse areas of life, from construction to gastronomy. It is not so long ago that sewage pipes were made from lead. If you have renovated an old house, you might have seen leaded pipes as they were replaced. They are easy to recognise by their unusual weight. However, lead and most of its compounds are today known to be highly toxic. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that over time accumulates in bone and soft tissues. Nonetheless, because of its low solubility and reactivity, lead poisoning usually only occurs in cases when the lead is dispersed and after long term exposure.

Lead acetate is one of the main active ingredients in progressive grey hair colorants such as Grecian formula, Youthair and GreyBan. It is valued due to its ability to change the colour of your white hair gradually and unnoticeably. Like lead, it is toxic, although it has been used for centuries as a wine sweetener. Since the beginning of the 1980s, lead has been withdrawn from many products, such as pipes, gasoline, paints, etc., and in the last decade lead compounds such as lead acetate have become the target of growing attention. Lead acetate has been banned from hair dyes in many counties of the European Union and in Canada but there is no universal ban within the EU, let alone on a larger scale. However, lead-based hair dyes continue to be available in shops in most countries in the world.

In one recent study, conducted in the US, people using lead acetate-containing grey hair colorant were monitored but no absorption of lead into their blood stream was registered. Hence, it was determined that lead acetate-based hair dyes can remain in use but the concentration of lead acetate may not exceed 0.6%. Most of the currently available hair dyes contain a maximum of 0.4% of lead acetate. In spite of that, these lotions may not be applied on facial hair or cut scalp and if redness, itching or inflammation appear their use must be discontinued. It is obvious that you should wash your hands after applying them.

As the toxicity of lead has become more evident in recent years and it is even suspected of being carcinogenic, bismuth has become its increasingly important replacement. Following a ban on sales of lead-containing hair dyes in some countries, the products affected have been reformulated to include bismuth citrate. Bismuth, like lead, also happens to be a heavy metal but it is considered to be much less toxic and is not thought to be carcinogenic. Nevertheless, the same careful handling is required when applying bismuth-based grey hair colorants as with lead-based products.

About the Author/Author Bio

The potential toxicity of grey hair colorants is one of many topics discussed at GreyHairLoss.com, a website dedicated to educating the public on the treatment options for early grey hair and hair loss. You can use this consumer platform to read and/or write a consumer review on any commercial product for grey hair and baldness you have used and recommend treatments you have found effective.

Article Source: http://www.sq.articlesphere.com/Article/The-Safety-of-Lead-Containing-Grey-Hair-Colorants/164613

Article Submitted: 2008-10-23 | This Article has been viewed 383 times.

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