The Effects of Hair Dye on DNA - Literature review Example

An increase in the risk of cancer for hair dye users has been a widespread concern for researchers, battling the issue of whether chemical hair dye effects a person’s DNA. Researchers throughout the world have studied this issue, but the results have been inconclusive. The chemical ingredients contained in the hair dye are mutagenic in vitro, which are carcinogenic in animals and humans. This report focuses on the effects of Hair Dye on DNA. The information for this report is sourced from the following reports: “Hair Dye Linked to Blood Cancer,” “Personal Use of Hair Dyes and Risk of Cancer,” “Possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” and “Does Hair Dye Cause Cancer?” Each report focuses on studying the effects of Hair Dye on DNA based on detailed, research analysis. Hair Dye Linked to Blood Cancer Yale Researcher, Tongzhang Zheng, assumed that hair dyes contribute to cancer links. He led a research team that analyzed hair dye uses in 601 women with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and 717 similar women without cancer. According to the article, the results were the following: “An increased risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma was observed for women who reported the use of hair coloring products before 1980. Women who used dark-colored permanent hair-coloring products for more than 25 years doubled their risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The risk was nearly the same for women who used more than 200 applications of these products.” (DeNoon). Results Yale researcher, Tongzhang Zheng, concluded his study by issuing the following statement: “No increased risk was seen in women who used semi-permanent dyes or temporary rinses.” Zheng was asked the following question in his interview with WebMD: “So should women stop using permanent hair dyes?” Zheng responded with the following statement: “Hair coloring is a personal decision for all kinds of reasons, but if I am the person, if semi-permanent or temporary dyes could serve my issue, I would do it. Because these contain much less of the ingredients linked to cancer.” (DeNoon). Personal Use of Hair Dyes and Risk of Cancer The authors focused on determining if hair dye causes cancer in humans. The research study was performed by analyzing previous studies from random researchers. The database that the authors used in the report, “Personal Use of Hair Dyes and Risk of Cancer,” was a computerized MEDLINE search. The articles retrieved from this database were between the years of 1966 to January 2005. The authors in this study analyzed cancer-exposure studies from previous research efforts. Key words were used to perform the search, such as hair, dye or colour or color, and cancer or neoplasm or carcinogen (Bahi, Etminan, and Montes-Martinez). The authors identified seventy-nine studies that were done in eleven countries. These studies focused on the personal hair dye use and cancer. Fourteen studies were found on breast cancer. Ten studies were found on bladder cancer, and forty studies were found on hematopoietic cancers. Data from two studies was provided on adult brain tumors, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer. One study per year was found on cancer sites, such as the salivary gland, endometrium, vagina, oral cavity, soft tissue sarcoma, digestive system, and respiratory system (Bahi, Etminan, and Montes-Martinez). Statistical Analysis The authors used a statistical analysis that was weighed based on the study-specific adjusted log odds ratios for case-control studies and log relative risks (RRs) for cohort studies by the inverse of their variance to computer a pooled relative risk (RR) and its 95% CI. Fixed and random effects were presented for pooled estimates but preferentially used the latter when heterogeneity was present. The parametric bootstrap version (1000 replications) of the DerSimonian and Laird Q test was used to check for heterogeneity. In order to qualify the heterogeneity, a proportion of the total variance due to between-study variance was calculated. Subgroup studies were analyzed based on characteristics, such as case-control/cohort design, adjustment factors, and type of controls, hospital-based or population based. Funnel plots were used to visually assess publication bias. The analysis was performed using the Hepima software, version 2.1.3., and the STATA, version 8.0 (Bahi, Etminan, and Montes-Martinez). Results The authors concluded by stating that they did not find strong evidence of a marked increase in the risk of cancer among people who use hair dye. The investigation into the effects of hair dye on DNA should be further investigated as it relates to hematopoietic cancer. The authors suggested that efforts should be focused in assessing the risks of cancer in the occupational setting of where hair dye is manufactured, since these people have a prolonged exposure to the substance. The concentration and frequency of the hair dye is higher than people who use it for personal uses (Bahi, Etminan, and Montes-Martinez). The results from the study indicated that, globally, there was no effect of personal hair dye use on the risk of breast and bladder cancer. Hematopoietic cancers had a borderline effect on hair dye uses, but there should not be a major public health concern, since the evidence is too weak for a causal effect. The absence of the causal effect is a result of the fact that the restriction of the analysis as it relates to intensive exposure to the hair dye, especially permanent hair dye, fails to strengthen the risk further. Publication bias is deemed to be present based on the funnel plot, results from the corresponding hypothesis test, and a small percentage of negative results that are unpublished. This information would eliminate the link between hair dye and cancer. The reason for the weak association of hair dye and cancer is the low concentration of potential carcinogens in the hair dyes, and ingredients, such as 2,4-diaminotoluene and 2,4-diaminoanisole, were discontinued in the mid 1970s, due to the presence of carcinogenic in rodents’ testing. The studies that were completed were done years after these ingredients were banned (Bahi, Etminan, and Montes-Martinez). Does Hair Dye Cause Cancer? Besides causing hair damage or destroying hair follicles, serious questions have surfaced in the effects of permanent hair dyes and its’ chemical composition. Hair dyes are used by a large percentage of American men and women. The Baby Boomers population has begun to age, and the amount of people coloring their hair in the United States has steadily increased. According to the United States Census Bureau, twenty-two million women will color their hair by the year 2003. A person’s genetic structure and health contributes greatly in determining if a person’s exposure to carcinogens, cancer causing substances, will result in contracting cancer. Due to the proposed link between hair dye and bladder cancer has been contradicted by additional research, it has been concluded that the link between hair dye and bladder cancer does not exist (“Does Hair Dye Cause Cancer?”). Possible Risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Researchers indicated that long-term use of hair dyes in black or brown colors had a small increase in humans dying from non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. However, this was one study, and the data is inconclusive. The article did not explain the research various studies to determine if hair dye is linked to cancer. The researchers should re-examine the subject of hair dye and cancer because, based on their conclusion, it is still unclear whether or not hair dye is the cause of cancer (“Possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma”). Conclusion After reviewing the studies in this report, I believe that there is a serious need for more research in determining if there is a true link between hair dye and cancer. I do not believe that researchers have successfully discovered if hair dye is the primary source of changes in DNA. The results have either been inconclusive or no results have been found on the link between hair dye and cancer. After my analysis, the researchers have not clearly determined if a person’s DNA structure is altered due to using hair dye. To eliminate this dilemma, I have listed methods in the next paragraph that I believe are deemed appropriate for analyzing the effects of hair dye on DNA. Researchers should clearly determine the hypothesis. An appropriate hypothesis for this research topic is as follows: Cancer is a direct link to using hair dye. I prefer this statement because only analyzing people who have used hair dye for years is not appropriate. A person’s DNA structure could ultimately change after the initial contact with using hair dye. Researchers should be assigned to analyzing people who have used hair dye from one to five years, six to ten years, and ten years and above. The research should also include current cancer patients and determine if they used hair dye throughout the course of their lives. The DNA composition in the cancer patient could be analyzed to see if the harmful chemicals in hair dye that cause cancer were found in the patient’s DNA. Finally, researchers should test people who work in places where hair dye is manufactured to determine if there is an exposure risk in inhaling and handling the hair dye solution. Works Cited Bahi, Takkouche, Etminan, Mahyar, Montes-Martinez, Agustin. “Personal Use of Hair Dyes and Risk of Cancer.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 239.20 (2005): 2516-2525. n. pag. Web. . DeNoon, Daniel J. “Hair Dye Linked to Blood Cancer.” WebMD Health News. n. pag. Web. 26 Jan. 2004. . Does Hair Dye Cause Cancer? Health articles Library. n. pag. Web. . “Possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.” Cancer Research UK. n. pag. Web. 27 Jul. 2009. . Read More