Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Health and Science University and Oregon OSHA are sounding the alarm over a popular hair-straightening product, which they say contains large amounts of formaldehyde.

OHSU's Occupational and Environmental Toxicology unit tested Brazilian Blowout after a Portland-area hairstylist reported health problems -- and those problems were echoed by others on the internet.

OHSU industrial hygienist Dede Montgomery, says one of the two bottles tested was labeled "formaldehyde-free" but contained about 10 percent of the carcinogen.

Dede Montgomery: "If we are working with hazardous chemicals we have a right to know what that is, so that we know a couple of things. We know what the risks are but we also know what we need to do to protect ourselves while we do our work."

The webpage of the California company that makes Brazilian Blowout, says the tests are invalid because OSHA didn't get the samples from the company.

It calls that "a clear violation of proper testing protocol and gross negligence on the part of OSHA."

Montgomery says she collected the two samples from Portland area salons and that the containers were open.