I was on my cell phone, parked in a little shopping center in Beaverton. It’s an area of town I don’t seem to go to often anymore, but was early to meet friends for dinner and running a few errands. I’m certain my friend David noticed I was getting distracted at the end of the call and perhaps sensed he caught me at a busy time. Rather, I had arbitrarily pulled into a parking spot directly outside a professional salon supply store. My eyes fixed on a flyer for, yep, Brazilian Blowout hair straightening products. After finishing the call, I knew I had a few extra minutes and felt compelled to learn more about what the salesfolks might tell me about this product.

It had been years since such a poster had invited me into a salon. Back then I felt it important to inform the stylists what they often didn’t know, and I’m sure I annoyed a few. This week upon spotting the flier, my brain screamed out silently… really? Still? (Yes, friends. It’s okay if you start rolling your eyes.) The 2009 lawsuit against OHSU and Oregon OSHA from Brazilian Blowout left me, even today, with a fear of mentioning the company name. I know that’s being over-the-top and unreasonable, but if you know me, you’re not surprised. This week I entered the store ensuring I was friendly and curious. In the past even when polite I learned some folks didn’t believe the science of it and wanted to continue making good money selling the product.

Yet, I found, this time it was entirely different. Oh yes, much time has passed! Younger folks in this industry may not even know the history of this product, and especially the events that occurred in Portland. (Learn more.) I found three inquisitive sales people who had no idea about the long history of this product in Portland and the whistleblowing related to its toxicity. I tried to limit my details. (Yes, I know you friends are relieved, knowing I can talk anyone’s ear off on this. In my defense, I had really lived this topic: it kept me up at night and, I was stressed over what I knew before we could do anything.) Anyway, the timing was impeccable as one salesperson let me know that just that day they had received an email from, yes, Brazilian Blowout! The company notified buyers that in 2025 BB products will no longer contain any form of formaldehyde. Hey, Kamala should be happy too as she was in the California AG Office when they issued the first class action suit, all those years ago.

When I got home and began looking online, I learned that of course this action is because the FDA will finally ban this chemical use for all hair products. Yes, it might actually be laid to rest. Individual state legislation has helped by banning forms of formaldehyde in personal care products. And yes, the FDA was slow in coming; I’m pretty certain the product was banned not just in EU countries but in Brazil way back as this event spurred in Portland. The FDA change was supposed to happen in October of this year, but has been delayed to early 2025. And yet, this communication shared with me today gives me hope that it will happen. Finally.

And because my brain works strangely in making connections, this all brings me back to a conversation I had with a contractor working on my neighbor’s driveway two weeks ago. Early in the morning I saw clouds of dust pouring from their driveway into the neighborhood. I watched as the drilling spread a cloud of silica-containing dust into their lungs – a teenage boy included – and the neighborhood, with the older man fashioning a well worn surgical dust mask under his nose. I thought again, “How can people not know?” I hesitated for less than a minute before grabbing two new N-95 masks and dashed across the street where the son helped translate my concerns. I too suggested they use a bit of water to reduce the dust and to stand upwind. They gratefully took the masks. The next day I was told they appreciated my comments and welcomed anything else I wanted to suggest. Oh my. We have a long way to go….

And yet. I regularly walk with my wee grandson through Southeast Portland. His ears perk up to loud noises – garbage trucks, weed whackers and residential construction projects. In our months of walking, I have yet to see roofers neglect fall protection. Five years ago it seemed more common than not that I’d encounter unprotected workers high off the ground. Yesterday we watched one residential roofing operation, with my little guy apparently interested in all my explaining. I briefly chatted with the bilingual foreman, complimenting them on the proper use of fall protection in all five of their workforce. He replied: “Thanks. You have to today, everyone does.” So in the end, yes. It does happen even if it seems to take forever, requiring joint work of regulators, advocates and employers.

Ironically, shortly after the Brazilian Blowout and formaldehyde topic arose, I successfully pitched beginning the Oregon and the Workplace Blog for my then OHSU employer. I appreciate that I was allowed to craft part of my job to create and sustain this popular blog for more than a decade. And while I don’t miss not being a part of it today, those who knew it see me now returning occasionally to blog about workplace topics here. Yes, like this. Dear readers, thank you for finding this and putting up with it even if it isn’t your favorite topic that I write about. And again, I’m reminded how my own dad continued on writing a column for the Shipping News long after he retired. It must be the way our brains are wired.

So, I’m still blogging. This is my 298th blog on this site since 2016, the year I signed the contract for my first book, My Music Man. I never know how long this will continue. Blog writing is a bit like recess at school for me. I’m not yet sure of the direction of my next book, so I’ll just play around a bit here. I’d love your help in sharing my blog with others. Often I’ll see that a group of readers has found one of my older blogs, I’ll reread it and think, “Hey, that’s pretty good!” If you’re new here, check out my blog categories:

• Biking
• Dying
• Environmental Health and Industrial Hygiene
• J.K. Gill, Chloe and William
• Joy and Grief
• Just Because
• Memories
• Old Oregon
• Writing

Oh, and you can also read my books!

Let me know what you think and if there’s something you want to know more about that might too satisfy my brain!