Dry products, shampoos and conditioners found to be containing benzene, and were contained in aerosol containers.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has announced a voluntary recall of a range of conditioners and dry shampoos because of the presence of benzene, which is a recognized carcinogen.
Many of Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences as well as Waterless along with the previously discontinued aerosol dry hair brands like Old Spice and Hair Food are among the affected sprays. The products that are affected come in aerosol containers. P&G issued an announcement on the 17th of December declaring, “Consumers should cease using and properly dispose of affected dry conditioner spray aerosol and dry shampoo sprays that are aerosol-based.
The entire list of affected items is available on the website of the company. The total number of affected items is 13 dry conditioning aerosol sprays and 19 aerosol dry hair sprays made by Six P&G brand names are currently being recalls. The other items from the brands listed on the recall list have been affected as per the company.
The affected items were distributed across the country, and stores were asked to remove them off their shelves. P&G promises to refund customers if they have one of the items.
In light of recent reports of levels of benzene found in other aerosolized products including some P&G Antiperspirant Sprays, the company has decided to test all its aerosols. “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and the quality of the items we deliver,” the company stated.
P&G hasn’t received any complaints about adverse events in connection with the Dry shampoo recall. The recall is being conducted “out of an excess of caution.”
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is a colorless or mild yellow substance at ambient temperatures (CDC). Benzene is a pleasant odour and is very easily combustible.
Based on the CDC the CDC, benzene is produced through natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanoes, and then it quickly evaporates into the atmosphere and dissolves very little in water. It is also present in gasoline, crude oil and smoke from cigarettes as a natural ingredient.
It can be used in the production of polymers, resinsand nylon and synthetic fibres as well as other items. According to CDC the chemical is also used in the production of dyes, rubbers and lubricants and detergents, as well as pesticides and medicines.
Why is benzene so harmful in your body?
Based on the CDC, benzene blocks your cells from working in a way that is optimally when you take certain dosages. It may cause anaemia by stopping your bone marrow from producing sufficient white blood cells. It also can affect the immune system through altering the antibody amounts in the blood of your patients, which results in the disappearance of white blood cells.
As per the CDC that exposure for long periods to benzene (more than an entire year) could increase the chance of contracting leukaemia. This is an infection of the bone marrow and blood cancer. The chemical is also classified to be an Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). The benzene chemical is associated with DNA damage, as well as other biochemical changes that could lead to cancer, based on conclusive evidence.
What happens to benzene when you use conditioner and dry shampoo?
Although benzene does not appear to be an ingredient within these products, such as dry shampoos or conditioners, P&G’s study “showed that unexpected quantities of benzene emerged from the propellant that shoots the product out of the container,” according to the firm.
Benzene can be found in these kinds of products “somewhere in the manufacturing process,” according to Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor of toxicology and pharmacology in Michigan State University.
Are you concerned in the event that you used any of the products listed above?
Edward W. Boyer, MD PhD who is a professor of emergency medicine and surgery at the Ohio State University Wexner Center informs Health that there is no need to be worried. “With benzene, the caveat is that it needs to be over a certain threshold to induce cancer,” Boyer says. “It does not cause cancer if the degree of exposure is less than that. It’s possible if it’s over that threshold.”
“Based on exposure modelling and cancer risk estimates provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels discovered in our tests would not be anticipated to create significant health consequences,” P&G stated in its recall announcement.
“The biggest possibility that will happen is that you will wind up with clean hair,” Dr. Boyer adds if you apply these products according to the directions (i.e. when you need to freshen the hair).
In addition, since you’re spraying this over your head, you are at the risk of inhaling the benzene. Inhaling high levels of benzene could experience various symptoms ranging from minutes to several hours, as per the CDC which includes:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Heartbeats that are quick or irregular
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Confusion \sUnconsciousness
- It is inevitable to die (with exposure to extremely high levels)
According to Doctor. Boyer, the quantity of dry shampoo or conditioner you could inadvertently inhale is very small. Dr. Boyer responds “You’re not exposed to that much.”
According to Alan, based on the quantity of exposure to benzene it is possible to cause skin irritation.
At the end In general, overall. Boyer advises that if you’ve previously used any of these products previously but you shouldn’t panic. “Rather than genuine danger, this type of recall is done more for risk perception and to ensure the company’s risk is reduced,” Dr. Boyer states.
