Benzene is a known carcinogen and humans have been exposed to this dangerous chemical for years. However, the world is becoming more aware and organizations have worked hard to raise awareness on the risk it brings to certain cancers and blood disorders. In fact, there are several popular brands out in the market right now that contain this, and a total of 19 dry shampoos have already been recalled.
Unilever United States issued a voluntary recall for 19 of their dry shampoo products. That’s because they have noticed potentially elevated levels of benzene. They received a release that was issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are currently doing their best to remove these from market shelves.
The many dry shampoo aerosol products that were made before October 2021 from brands such as Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmé are part of the group that has been recalled. For those who are affected by this, they need to know that there have been no reported adverse events from the use of these products.
Benzene Is Considered a Human Carcinogen
Benzene comes under the classification as a known carcinogen. This was per the American Cancer Society. There are several substances used that could cause cancer and these are classified as the following: known, probable, and possible carcinogens.
The chemical is found naturally in the environment. Carcinogens can also be found in crude oil and gasoline. As for benzene, this has been used to create certain lubricants, detergents, dyes, and pesticides. This was explained in detail by the experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
When it comes to exposure from this dangerous chemical, it can happen through inhalation, oral, and through the skin. Many have already been exposed simply by breathing the air that comes with this chemical. Those who work in industries that produce or make use benzene are exposed to it the most, but mainstream cigarette smoke is also one of them. This accounts for about half the total U.S. population exposure to benzene.
No Health Issues Reported from Recalled Products
While there is no doubt that benzene is harmful, people need to be aware that this also causes cells to malfunction. A good example would be causing the bone marrow not to produce the sufficient amount of red blood cells. If this happens, people could suffer from anemia. Exposure to the chemical also brings about certain cancers such as leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow. Aside from these, benzene also is the culprit behind other potentially life-threatening blood disorders.
Benzene can be extremely risky, but this is also dependent on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure. What plays a crucial role as well are the person’s age and if the person suffers from preexisting medical conditions. This is always what the medical experts consider when looking into the many cases.
The researchers from the FDA actually made an independent health hazard evaluation on the products and they said that the daily exposure to benzene in the dry shampoos would not cause unfavorable health consequences. Nonetheless, Unilever U.S. has made the move to recall these products “out of an abundance of caution.”
They also conducted an internal investigation and they were able to identify the propellant as the source of the benzene. So, Unilever has chosen to take action and they have since worked with its propellant suppliers so that they can take care of the problem and address it accordingly, according to the company’s statement.
Because when the user presses the valve that’s placed at the very top of the can or bottle, the propellant forces the product inside via an internal tube and out of the valve. This is what brings out the spray or foam.
What to Do with the Dry Shampoo Recalled
Unilever released a statement last October 17, and according to the company, these recalled products should be made before October 2021. They created a complete list of the recalled products and they can be found on a site created. It also must be noted that the other products not found on the list aren’t affected by the said recall.
The dry shampoos included in the list were sold all over the United States and the stores where these are found have already been notified so that they can take these off the stores immediately. They also urge the people who have purchased the included products to stop using them. Aside from that, you can simply show the product that you have so that you can have it refunded or reimbursed. For multiple products, they will require that you show them a proof of purchase. You can do this by showing a receipt or photo of the lot code. For the latter, this can be found on the bottom of the bottle or spray can.
If you want to know if the product is part of the recalled list and to request a refund or reimbursement, you can see more of the details of the company website. Or, you can simply contact Unilever U.S. through 877-270-7412. Office hours are Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.
Should you notice any adverse reaction or if you see quality problems with the shampoo you have, you can report these further to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program. They can be reached online, by regular mail, or by fax. You can also submit the report online via their Watch Report page.
For regular mail or fax, the form can also be downloaded via FDA Watch Reforms . You may also 800-332-1088 to request the form. You need to fill this out and return to the address found on the preaddressed form. You can also submit this through fax to 800-FDA-0178.
Recommended For You
