More than 30 brands of shampoo recalled in the US for possible carcinogenic content

Home products giant Procter & Gamble announced the voluntary recall of aerosol and shampoo products from brands such as Pantene, Herbal Essences and Old Spice due to a problem in its content.

In the affected products there were “unexpected levels” of benzene , a chemical that can cause disease, including cancer, when a person experiences high exposure to the substance.

The product recall also includes the Aussie, Waterless and Hair Food brands for a total of 32 presentations that are made in the United States and sold primarily in North America.

Benzene is commonly found in motor fuels and is used by some industries to make plastics and resins.

There is a increased risk of developing leukemia when a person has been exposed ta at high levels of benzene.

Procter & Gamble said that benzene is not an active ingredient in their products and that the levels detected should not cause adverse health effects, according to the standards from the US Environmental Protection Agency

“Daily exposure to benzene in recalled products, at the levels detected in our tests, would not be expected to cause adverse consequences for the health, ”the company said in a statement.

Although the manufacturer did not disclose the amount of products removed from store shelves, it assured that it represents less than 1% of your hair care line.

“While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our products, our review showed that the unexpected levels of benzene were coming from the propellant that sprayed the product out of the can, ”said Procter & Gamble.

The recall of products was notified to the Food and Drug Administration, which did not make a pronouncement on the news.

When the first announcement was made On Friday, the company’s shares fell 1.1%. But in Monday and Tuesday trading, the loss volume was reversed.

Earlier this year, US drug stores recalled Johnson & # 39; s signature sunscreen products. Johnson after the company said it had detected benzene in some samples.

Where is benzene found and what symptoms does it cause?

According to From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people can be exposed to benzene in everyday spaces:

• Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, gasoline stations, vehicle exhaust gases and industrial emissions.
• Indoor air generally contains higher levels of benzene than outdoor air. Benzene in indoor air comes from products that contain benzene such as glues, paints, furniture polish, and detergents.
• The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations may contain higher levels of benzene than other areas.

When a person was exposed for a long time, benzene causes the cells of the body to lose their functions .

“For example, it can cause the bone marrow to not make enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. In addition, it can damage the immune system by changing the levels of antibodies in the blood and causing the loss of white blood cells, ”according to the CDC.

The main effect of benzene by prolonged exposure occurs in the blood, hence it can lead to leukemia, which is a type of blood cancer.

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