A Survey on Health Effects in a Human Population Exposed to Permanent-Waving Solution Containing Thioglycolic Acid

The study investigated the health effects of thioglycolic acid (TGA), a component in permanent-waving solutions, on human populations. It involved 57 female hairdressers exposed to TGA and 64 female schoolteachers as controls. The hairdressers showed a significantly higher rate of menstrual disorders (22.81% vs 9.38%, p<0.05). Additionally, a mutagenic activity test on urine from 8 hairdressers and 8 medical students revealed significantly higher mutagenic activity in hairdressers (110.30 ± 45.95 vs 28.43 ± 19.33, p<0.01). A micronucleus assay on scalp hair follicle cells from 16 volunteers showed increased micronuclei presence 24 hours after exposure, peaking at 12.44‰ compared to 3.13‰ before exposure (p<0.001). The findings suggested potential reproductive and carcinogenic risks for hairdressers due to TGA exposure.