(NewsGlobal.com)- Popular products by well-known brands have been found to contain a chemical linked to cancer, according to a report by CNN. High levels of benzene have been detected in dry shampoo products from brands like Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI, and TRESemmé.
The products were voluntarily recalled because of the presence of the chemical. An independent laboratory, Valisure, reportedly sent a citizen petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration describing that “among 148 batches from 34 different brands of dry shampoo products, 70% of samples tested showed “quantifiable” levels of benzene.” The petition requests the FDA to “expeditiously request recalls” of the dangerous products.
The report showed levels of benzene 10 times more than 2 parts per million (ppm), the FDA limit for drugs, according to their website.
Valisure shows data from the analysis of benzene by directly sampling contaminated air after spraying dry shampoo products, which suggests potential for short- and long-term inhalation exposure to high levels of benzene,” David Light, Valisure’s chief executive officer, and Qian Wu, Valisure’s head of global analytics wrote to the FDA.
Studies have shown that rates of leukemia have been higher in those who were exposed to high levels of benzene. When inhaled, lab results demonstrate that benzene causes tumors in rats and mice, supporting the finding that there is a heightened risk humans face with contracting leukemia, according to the American Cancer Society.
“The presence of this known human carcinogen in dry shampoo products that are regularly used indoors and in large volumes makes this finding especially troubling,” Light and Wu continued.
Some brands, including Church & Dwight, the maker of Batiste hair products and Not Your Mother’s, issued comments to CNN highlighting their priority to keep consumers safe and recall products that might pose a risk.
“Consumer safety is of the utmost importance,” Church & Dwight said in a statement. The company said that after hearing of their competitors’ recalled products, they contacted their propellant suppliers to evaluate the Valisure report. They determined that no benzene was found in their products.
