London: Hair dyes that are being used by millions of women contain chemicals that are linked to cancer, scientists have warned.
They say that both home hair colouring kits and the dyes, which are used at expensive salons pose a potential risk to women`s health.
The warning comes from scientists at Leeds-based company Green Chemicals, who conducted a review of the chemistry surrounding hair dye.
They warn that chemicals called secondary amines, which are either found in all permanent hair dyes or are formed in them, can penetrate the skin and stay on hair for weeks, months or even years after the dye is applied, the Daily Mail reported.
Over time, the chemicals can react with tobacco smoke and exhaust fumes, to form highly poisonous chemicals called N-nitrosamines.
Known to cause cancer, these are banned from being used in cosmetics, but the Leeds researchers argued that they can still be generated via a simple chemical reaction.
The findings have been published in the journal Materials.
ANI
