More Benzene in Dry Shampoo Products

A new study reveals more products with high levels of benzene – a dangerous ingredient considered to be a trigger for cancer

A new study commissioned Valisure has uncovered more products with high levels of benzene. In their petition, Valisure has stated:

“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. 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.”

The products in question

The products on the most concerning list include Redken and Sebastian. ICON Salon Systems, distributor of Redken in BC, has confirmed their lot number does not match the study sample. Paul Mitchell, CHI, Amika, Pureology, Biolage, Kerastase, L’Oreal, and Wella products also appear, however, with lower levels.

The dangers

The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has estimated that lifetime exposure to benzene inhalation at 0.4 parts per billion (“ppb”), or 0.0004 ppm, will increase the risk of developing cancer in humans at the same 1 in 100,000 exposed persons rate as FDA uses to set regulatory limits on other trace impurities.

Health Canada has advised that “while there is no safe level of benzene, people can be exposed to benzene during everyday life by air (e.g., by inhaling car exhaust, second-hand tobacco smoke and industrial emissions), by swallowing benzene or by absorbing it through the skin (e.g., through contact with contaminated water). Long-term (over a year or more) and repeated exposure to elevated levels of benzene may lead to serious health effects, including various forms of cancer such as leukemia, anemia (low red blood cells), and bone marrow failure. These risks may increase when these products are used on children.”

The study

Find the study below, and flip to page 13 to see the list of products.

Recommendation

The Association recommends you contact your supplier of any dry shampoo products you carry and check to see if the lot numbers match those in the study.

We also suggest you take precautions outlined in our BeautySafe program and provide sufficient ventilation in your workspace and avoid using dry shampoos on our around children or persons who are at risk of, or have a history of, leukemia, anemia, or bone marrow failure.

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