Document a1m5Vy4ZXXpYGL1w4JgwkM0yX
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20204
September 28, 1967
Dr. Robert A. Kehoe University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Environmental Health Kettering Laboratory Eden and Bethesda Avenues Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
Dear Dr. Kehoe:
It was our reluctance to tell you to go ahead with your proposed study on lead-containing hair dyes that prevented me from replying to your letter as soon as I received it. Since that time I have been out of the country for about a month.
Assuming that your investigation does demonstrate that no lead is absorbed through the human skin from the use of lead-containing hair dyes, we do not believe that this would prove absolute safety. It seems reasonable to conclude that the general use of these dyes by the public would result in some contamination of the hands followed by oral consumption of some lead. Therefore, it is important that your client understand that a negative finding in your experiment does not eliminate entirely the risk of increasing the environmental exposure to lead.
In regard to your protocol, we have no additional suggestions.
Sincerely yours.
0. G. Fitzhugh, Ph.D. Toxicological Advisor, Division of Toxicological Evaluation