The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·79061·Announced 1979-11-01

CPSC Approves Corrective Plans for 26 Asbestos Hair Dryer Manufacturers

The CPSC approved voluntary corrective plans for 26 manufacturers of hand-held hair dryers containing asbestos in their heat shields. Consumers can repair, refund, or exchange these units.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves asbestos, a known carcinogen, which fits the rubric criterion for 'risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.' No specific injuries or illnesses are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has unanimously voted to accept voluntary corrective action plans from 26 manufacturers and importers of hand-held hair dryers. These companies account for nearly 10 percent of hand-held hair dryers manufactured with asbestos since 1969. The corrective actions cover nearly 100 different models and styles of hair dryers.

The asbestos was identified specifically in the heat shields of the dryers. The companies informed the CPSC that no other dryer parts exposed to the airstream contained asbestos. While many of the companies maintain that these hair dryers have not been proven to present a health hazard, the CPSC has mandated corrective measures.

Consumers affected by this recall can take specific actions depending on the manufacturer. Eight companies have agreed to repair their hair dryers, three have agreed to refund the purchase price or replace the dryers with asbestos-free models, and 15 have agreed to exchange the dryers for refunds, new asbestos-free dryers, or other products. A list of specific corrective actions for each firm is available from the CPSC.

The recalled product

Product
Afro hand-held hair dryers
Manufacturer
Interpur
Category
Consumer Product — Personal Care Appliances
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · asbestos exposure

See all →