Frederico P. Sibug Jr., Rovi Angelo B. Villaos
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Hair dyes, nowadays, increasingly involves some chemical manipulations that enhances the color of the hair and alter its conditions. As demand for personal care products, such as hair dyes, increases, researchers pose several serious fitness consequences of using hair dyes.
Hair dyes are composed of genotoxic chemicals. To investigate the genotoxicity of hair dyes, four BFAD-unapproved hair dyes were subjected to the Allium cepa Aberration Assay. In phase 1, the 96 hour root growth inhibition test was done by exposing onion bulbs to different concentrations of the four hair dyes (1g/L, 0.1g/L, 0.01g/L, 1mg/L, 0.1mg/L, and 0.01mg/L) and distilled water. Root lengths were taken and the percent root growth was calculated. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of each hair dye was taken. In phase 2, the genotoxicity was established through the 48 hour exposure treatment. Number of chromosomal aberrations was counted and the percent aberrant cells of each hair dye concentration was compared with the positive control using the Chi-square statistics.
In phase 1, hair dye B showed the lowest EC50 than the other hair dyes. In phase 2, the mean number of chromosomal aberrations was relatively higher than the other hair dyes, but is relatively lower than the positive control. Chi-square statistics showed that at the EC50 and 50% of EC50, all hair dyes were genotoxic. Moreover, at 25% of EC50, all hair dyes except hair dye D were genotoxic. However, at 10% of EC50, all hair dyes were not genotoxic,
Therefore, hair dyes A, B, and C must be used at concentrations lower than or equal to 10% of their EC50. Moreover, hair dye D should be utilized at concentrations lower than or equal to 25% of its EC50.