EXPOSURE TO HAIR-COLORING PRODUCTS AND THE RISK OF MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

An interview study of persons diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 1977 and 1981 and suitable control subjects was conducted to test the hypothesis that exposure to hair dyes increases the risk of multiple m yeloma. Among women, there was little evidence that prior regular use of hair dyes (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0. 70, 1.4) or prior employment as a hairdresser (OR = 1.1; 95% CI = 0.43 , 2.7) increased risk; however, the former comparison was limited by t he lack of detailed information concerning the exposure. Among men, th ere was a modest association of regular use of hair dyes (OR = 1.5; 95 % CI = 0.75, 2.9) with myeloma, but this was based on a small number o f exposed persons.