HAIRDRESSERS have a higher cancer risk because of chemicals at work, a study shows.
Women who spend a long time working around talcum powder, bleach, dyes and spray cans are more likely to get ovarian cancer.
Hairdressers are at a higher risk of cancer because of chemicals in dye, scientists say
Research showed those who have spent 10 years or more in hairdressers’, barber shops or beauty salons have triple the average risk of the disease.
Accountants and construction workers also face double the danger of the average woman.
The full list of jobs linked to a significantly higher than average risk is:
- Hairdresser
- Barber
- Beautician
- Construction worker
- Accountant
- Clothes maker or embroiderer
- Sales or retail worker
Working as a nurse decreased the risk, the study found.
Around 7,500 women in the UK get ovarian cancer each year and there are 4,100 annual deaths.
Its causes are poorly understood and nine out of 10 cases cannot be prevented, according to Cancer Research UK.
Dr Anita Koushik, from the University of Montreal in Canada, said: “Women working in hairdressing-related occupations are exposed to hundreds of chemicals at high concentrations, including hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners and styling and cosmetic products.
“In our study, employment in hairdressing-related occupations and exposure to 12 agents were associated with increased risks of ovarian cancer.”
The study used data from 491 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Montreal, Canada, between 2010 and 2016.
It compared them with 897 women who did not get cancer and looked at their jobs, medical history and general health.
There were 18 chemicals most concerning, with many already investigated for cancer links by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
They included ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, hair dust, polyester fibres, formaldehyde, propellant gases and petrol.
Chemicals can trigger cancers by latching onto DNA or reacting with it to cause long-term damage that makes cells multiply out of control.
Writing in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, medics warned of “high cumulative exposure” to the chemicals.
Dr Laura Beane Freeman, from the US National Cancer Institute, said: “We continue to have a limited understanding of cancer risks from occupational exposures in women.”
