Evaluating Neighborhood-Level Differences in Hair Product Safety by Environmental Working Group Ratings among Retailers in Boston, Massachusetts

Abstract

Background: Personal care products are a notable source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Racial/ethnic differences in the use of hair products containing EDCs are reported, with women and children of color more commonly using hair products that are hormonally active and contain EDCs than other racial/ethnic groups. There is limited research examining the neighborhood-level social and economic factors that may contribute to these reported disparities. Objectives: We aimed to examine the safety of hair products across sociodemographically diverse neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts. Methods: Eight neighborhoods were identified based on indicators of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). We randomly selected 50 stores and collected data on the hair products for sale and their corresponding Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep hazard score. The association between neighborhood and EWG hazard category (low, moderate, high) was examined using a multinomial logistic regression. Results: A total of 14,019 hair products were identified in the eight neighborhoods. When considering products with EWG hazard scores, Roxbury, a lower income community of color, and Mission Hill, a lower income community, were reported to have a higher percentage of high-hazard hair products in comparison with Beacon Hill [12.2% (163/1,332), 11.4% (65/571) vs. 7.9% (30/382), respectively]. Differences between the safety of hair products were observed, with Roxbury and Mission Hill reporting more than a 2-fold higher risk ratio (RR) of finding hair products with high vs. low EWG scores in comparison with that of Beacon Hill [RR for Roxbury: 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 4.6; RR for Mission Hill: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.0, 5.4]. Other neighborhoods were also observed to have an increased RR in comparison with Beacon Hill, however, with 95% CIs that extended beyond the null. Discussion: Retail stores in neighborhoods with a higher percentage of residents of color and lower SES were found to be more likely to sell products with high hazard scores than stores in a higher SES and predominately non-Hispanic White neighborhood. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10653

Personal Care Products, Socioeconomic Status, and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures in Black Women

“…Given the lack of data on the product brands, we were not able to provide empirical evidence to evaluate this hypothesis in the current analysis. However, many beauty products that advertise the omission of nonpersistent EDCs from their ingredient list (e.g., phthalates and parabens) tend to be more expensive and less accessible to individuals of lower SES. ,− For example, a 2023 study found that stores in lower income communities and communities of color had a higher prevalence of toxic hair products (as classified by the Environmental Working Group’s hazard score) . Future studies should investigate the types and brands of personal care products marketed and used across SES groups among Black women and the levels of nonpersistent EDCs within those products.…”

“…Similarly, we have previously found that personal care product use (e.g., self-reported use of hair products) differed by SES among participants in the SELF cohort, which has important implications for potential EDC exposure. A 2023 study in Boston further reported that lower income communities and communities of color had a greater number of high hazard personal care products in retail stores comparatively to higher SES and non-Hispanic White communities, suggesting that access to less toxic products may affect EDC exposures across SES groups.…”