A recent study highlights significant health disparities impacting minority communities, particularly Black women, middle-aged adults, and low-income consumers. Researchers from Rutgers and Columbia universities found that these groups are more likely to use personal care products that score high on hazard ratings in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. The findings demonstrate that Black women are almost twice as likely as white women to use hair products that contain potentially harmful chemicals linked to health risks.
These troubling patterns expose minorities to potentially hazardous chemicals at disproportionate rates. The study emphasizes that many products marketed to Black women contain ingredients associated with hormone disruption and reproductive health risks. Furthermore, financial barriers exacerbate the situation, as high-hazard products are prevalent in lower-income neighborhoods, placing safer alternatives out of reach for many consumers.
Adana Llanos, a professor associated with the study, highlighted the urgent need for accountability among companies and regulators to ensure safety in all personal care products. Without regulatory oversight, customers often remain unaware of the risks associated with the products they use daily, pointing to a major gap in consumer safety.
The researchers stress that access to information is vital for communities to make informed choices about the products they apply to their bodies, illustrating a critical intersection of health equity and market practices.
See: “Rutgers-Columbia study finds racial, economic disparities in personal care product safety” (March 5, 2025)