Dry Shampoo – Benzene – Leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia

Testing via gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other methods, as well as numerous product recalls, have demonstrated dangerously high levels of benzene in dry shampoo products, including but not limited to the following brands: Tresemme, Dove, Nexxus, Sauve, and BedHead.

No amount of benzene is acceptable in dry shampoo products.  Benzene is toxic, carcinogenic, and poisonous substance that has been linked to cancer, and other diseases and is dangerous at any level.  Despite testing and recalls showing these products contain benzene, it is not among the ingredients listed on the labels.

Benzene is a component of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke, and is one of the elementary petrochemicals.  The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans.  Likewise, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) lists benzene as a “Class 1 solvent” that “should not be employed in the manufacture of drug substances, excipients, and drug products because of [its] unacceptable toxicity.”  “Exposure over a long period of time to any concentration of benzene greater than zero is not safe.” “There is probably no safe level of exposure to benzene, and all exposures constitute some risk in a linear, if not supralinear, and additive fashion.”  The World Health Organization has stated “[h]uman exposure to benzene has been associated with a range of acute and long-term adverse health effects and diseases, including cancer and haematological effects.”  According to the American Cancer Society:  “IARC classifies benzene as ‘carcinogenic to humans,’ based on sufficient evidence that benzene causes acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  IARC also notes that benzene exposure has been linked with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.”  The CDC warns that “[b]enzene works by causing cells not to work correctly.  For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia.  Also, it can damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.”  The CDC also cautions that “[d]irect exposure of the eyes, skin, or lungs to benzene can cause tissue injury and irritation.”  According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, humans can become exposed to benzene through “inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact.”

If you, or a loved one used a dry shampoo product for at least one year, and were diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, please contact one of our benzene attorneys here.