What happened to 'Unilever', dry shampoos and benzene?

When we still were assimilating the controversy published by general media around the straightened hair, two weeks later, comes to the fore a new news that alarms to the readers of these. This time, the aim have been products like the shampoos, that in its composition contain benzene. Even some media devoted to the sports information have added to the clickbait and have helped to spread this news.The stir is caused because on 18 October, the company that devotes to the manufacture of products of personnel care, personal hygiene and also of beauty, Unilever, in his division of United States issued a press release in which it announced that it went to produce a voluntary retreat of some products with a number of determinate batch. These products, as it explained the company, presented some levels of benzene, that in spite of not representing a risk for the health of the consumers, preferred to withdraw them of the market. In the same document, Unilever attached a list with the products that were affected, and the number of corresponding batch. Between them, they found the shampoo in dry of the brands Dove, Nexxus, Soft, Tresemme, Bed Head and Rockaholic, all they, manufactured before October of 2021.Products affected of UnileverWhat is the benzene and why has to concern us?Gemma Uroz, specialist in regulatory, and Celia Campos, Technic Director and CEO of MuttuLab explain it: "The benzene is a colourless liquid, volatile, of sweet smell and highly flammable that obtains by means of processes of distillation of the oil. His density is lower that the one of the water and is slightly soluble in her. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon and, because of the type of chemical links that presents, is a very stable molecule, that requires the intervention of catalysts to do it react chemically. It uses in the chemical industry to obtain compound intervals for the manufacture of diverse products."The main route of entry into the body is inhalation, although dermal exposures may also occur, the level of which will depend on the use and manner of handling. Eni Gómez, biologist capilar, has detailed that an upper quantity to the stipulated could cause itching and irritation: "it surpasses to a large extent the legislation allowed and to be confirmed, would suppose a risk for the health of the users of this type of products since when having the product a cosmetic form in aerosol, that could be inhaled, the potential carcinogénico of the benzene could be dangerous on the mucosas. Besides, the cutaneous contact of the benzene when depositing in the scalp supposes for its a toxicity that can manifest in itching and irritation"This element is classified like a carcinogenic component, such as they detail us from Muttulab, and have explained that inside the European Union, this liquid can't be used like cosmetic ingredient and products of personal care: "In Europe, the benzene is classified like carcinogenic of the group 1 (carcinogenic for the human beings) by the IARC and like carcinogenic 1 To as the classification harmonised of the Regulation (CE) number 1272/2008 on Classification, Packaging and Labeling of Substances and Mixes (Regulation CLP). In this same normative European also has assigned the categories of dangerousness for the health mutagen 1B, since they exist proofs that it produces hereditary mutations in human germinal cells, irritating of the skin and of the eyes of category 2, toxic by aspiration of category 1 and toxic systemic after prolonged exhibitions or repeated of category 1. The benzene is a carcinogenic human known and, therefore, does not allow his use or presence vestigial in cosmetics and products of personal care." Besides, they have signalled that "in the case that it find benzene like impurity in any of the ingredients of a cosmetic product, his presence like impurity is limited to

What happened to 'Unilever', dry shampoos and benzene?

Eni Gómez, hair biologist, Gemma Uroz and Celia Campos from MuttuLab explain the controversy that arose after the voluntary withdrawal of some Unilever dry shampoos