Cancer experts are calling on companies selling personal care products to increase their vigilance and testing for toxic chemicals after a mass recall of dry shampoo in Canada this week.
On Tuesday, Unilever and Health Canada announced a recall that included more than 1.5 million dry shampoo products manufactured by Dove, Bed Head and Tresemmé due to the detection of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.
This is not the first time benzene has been detected in personal care products, such as dry shampoo, deodorants and aerosol spray sunscreens in Canada, prompting a safety recall.
In December 2021, more than 800,000 units of dry shampoo and conditioner aerosol spray products by Herbal Essence and Pantene were also recalled over benzene detection.
Also in November last year, approximately 1.4 million units of Old Spice and Secret anti-perspirants were part of another benzene-related recall.
A recall has been issued that involves various hair care products of which 1.5 million units were sold in Canada from January 2020 to October 2022.
The recall involves certain lots of Bed Head TIGI, Dove and Tresemmé Dry Shampoo products that are packaged in aerosol cans.
Health Canada says immediately stop using the recalled product which contains benzene and dispose of it in accordance with the instructions for disposal on the packaging. Consumers may contact the company for reimbursement.
Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life-threatening.
The recall does indicate that based on exposure modeling and the cancer risk assessments published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences. The items were manufactured in the United States
Why was benzene found in dry shampoo?
Ivan Litvinov, a dermatologist and scientist in the cancer research program at McGill University Health Center Institute (MUHC), said he wasn’t surprised by the recent recall. His own research highlights that benzene contamination is nothing new and the chemical has been known to contaminate many personal care products in recent years.
“Benzene is inevitable and we are exposed to it whether we want to or not,” he said.
The recalled products were distributed across Canada through retail stores and online.
Photo credit: Health Canada
Unilever Canada said it does not use benzene as an ingredient in its products.
In a statement announcing the recall, the distributor said an internal investigation identified an aerosol propellant as the cause of “potentially elevated levels of benzene” in several lots of its dry shampoo products. I got
Litvinov said the origin of raw materials and the manufacturing process could be causing elevated levels of benzene
Unilever Canada said it does not use benzene as an ingredient in its products.
In a statement announcing the recall, the distributor said an internal investigation identified an aerosol propellant as the cause of “potentially elevated levels of benzene” in several lots of its dry shampoo products. I got
Litvinov said the origin of raw materials and the manufacturing process could be causing elevated levels of benzene.
“I think it’s contamination from raw materials, because the benzene isn’t inherent in the product itself.”