< Back to Previous Page Hairspray and Cosmetic Products Responsible For Genital Birth Defects Chemicals found in hairspray and in many cosmetic products have shown a link to genital birth defects.  The biggest risk is to the unborn baby boys of hairdressers and cosmetologists that are exposed to these common chemicals found in hairspray and other cosmetic products on a daily basis.  A recent study of baby boys born with a genital birth defect known as hypospadias, found that a disproportionate amount of baby boys were being born with this genital birth defect to mothers that worked as cosmetologist or hairdressers.  The study was conducted by the Imperial College of London. Hypospadias is a genital birth defect in boys where the opening of the urethra (urinary meatus) is not at the tip or head of the penis (glans penis).  In a hypospadic urethra, the urinary meatus can be located anywhere along the urethral groove that runs from the glans penis along the underside of the shaft (ventral aspect).    The study showed that frequent and constant exposure to the chemicals found in hairspray and many cosmetic products can contribute to the genital birth defect, hypospadias.  Frequent and constant exposure of the pregnant mother to these chemicals can increase the risk of hypospadias dramatically.  According to the study, baby boys born to cosmetologists and hairdressers are over twice as likely to be born with this specific genital birth defect.