August 17, 2022 In December 2021, Procter & Gamble voluntarily recalled 32 of their aerosol haircare products. The product recall includes aerosol dry conditioner spray products and aerosol dry shampoo spray products from Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences, and Waterless (branded as Waterl<ss), along with aerosol dry shampoo products from Old Spice and Hair Food that had previously been recalled. The company has alerted retailers about the recall.
A complete list of recalled products can be found on the Procter & Gamble website.
Why Are These Products Being Recalled for Benzene Exposure?
In their news release about the recall, Procter & Gamble said no harmful effects had been reported from using these products, but the company was recalling them “out of an abundance of caution.” The company said that benzene is not an ingredient in any P&G product, but their product review found “unexpected levels of benzene in the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.”
Procter & Gamble stated: “[D]aily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.”
But a large part of the problem with aerosol haircare products is that they are used daily. “That is chronic exposure, if you’re using it every day,” says Mary Fox, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
What is the Connection Between Benzene and Cancer?
The American Cancer Society reports that benzene is known to cause cancer, particularly leukemia and other cancers affecting blood cells, such as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The primary way to be exposed to benzene is by breathing it in. Exposure can also be through the skin and by mouth.
On their website, the American Cancer Society cites the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Heath Organization), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, all of which also warn that the link between benzene exposure and cancer is well established.
The CDC describes benzene as a highly flammable colorless or light yellow liquid with a sweet odor that evaporates quickly in air. The CDC website also provides more details about benzene exposure, listing several short-term symptoms that can occur from breathing in benzene:
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- rapid or irregular heartbeat
- headaches
- tremors
- confusion
- unconsciousness
- death (at very high levels)
What You Should Do If You Have Been Using These Products
If you are using any of these recalled products, you should stop immediately and dispose of them properly.
For more details about the recall and to get more information about how to be reimbursed, call Procter & Gamble at 1-888-674-3631. You can also visit the specific product websites:
If you have had any harmful reactions from using these recalled products, you can report them to the Food and Drug Association by going online to the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program website.
How We Help Victims of Benzene Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced attorneys. Our Dallas, Texas, benzene law firm has battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for 20 years, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for dangerous chemicals and the personal injuries and cancers they cause. If you have suffered catastrophic injury caused by dangerous products, we can help.
