Hair dye use and incidence of adult acute leukemia. Garth H. Rauscher, David Shore, Dale P. Sandler. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC. INTRODUCTION: Hair dyes are known to contain carcinogens. Darker dyes and permanent dyes contain greater amounts of carcinogens than other dye types, and earlier formulations may also be more carcinogenic than more recent formulations. METHODS: We examined the effect of hair dye use on incidence of adult acute leukemia in 770 patients and 623 population-based, random digit dialed controls. We estimated relative risks for ever use separately for permanent and non-permanent dyes, as well as relative risks by frequency, duration, lifetime applications, decade of initial use, and dye color in logistic regression. RESULTS: Hair dye use was reported by 45% of women and 6% of men. There was a modest positive association for ever-use of permanent dyes (RR= 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.2), with the largest effect for greater than 20 years of use (RR=2.4 95% CI: 1.2, 4.7). Use of dark colored, permanent dyes before 1970 was associated with a nearly three-fold increased incidence (RR=2.7, 95% CI: 0.95, 7.7). Non-permanent dyes were unassociated with incidence. There was no suggestion of an increased incidence for initial use of any dye type or color after 1970. CONCLUSION: Cumulative exposure to permanent dyes over many years appeared to increase incidence of adult acute leukemia, but only 3% of cases and 1% of controls were long-term users. Results suggest that while older formulations (in particular of dark, permanent dyes) may have increased risk of adult acute leukemia, newer formulations do not appear to increase risk. AACR Abstract Number: R1560 AACR Abstract #1563, 2003 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.