(CNN) — High levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical, have been found in multiple brands and batches of dry shampoo products, according to a new report from independent lab Valisure.
Last month, certain dry shampoo sprays, including some Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI and TRESemmé products, were voluntarily recalled due to the possible presence of benzene.
Valisure filed a citizen petition with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday describing that in 148 batches of 34 different brands of dry shampoo products, 70% of the samples tested showed “measurable” levels of benzene.
According to their report, 11 samples showed levels 10 times higher than two parts per million, the FDA’s limit for the drug.
“However, the tested dry shampoos are not drugs and do not contain any active pharmaceutical ingredients for therapeutic purposes. Therefore, any significant detection of benzene may be considered unacceptable. Additionally, Valisure displays data from benzene analysis by sampling directly from contaminated air after spraying dry shampoo, indicating the potential for short-term and long-term inhalation exposure. The presence of this known human carcinogen in dry shampoo products that are regularly used indoors and in large quantities makes this finding particularly concerning,” wrote David Light, CEO of Valisure, and Qian Wu, head of global analytics at Valisure. Valisure, in the Petition citizens FDA.
The petition calls on the FDA to “immediately request a recall” of affected batches of products containing benzene and better define limits for benzene contamination in other products.
The FDA typically takes 180 days to respond to such a request.
In summary, three batches of one brand’s dry shampoo products contained an aerosol that contained more than 100 ppm benzene, according to the report, and some samples tested by Valisure showed more than 10 times the FDA limit.
On the other hand, the petition mentions that Valisure has also detected benzene in other commonly used products, including certain hand sanitizers and sunscreens.
CNN has reached out to the brands named in the petition and reached out to the FDA for comment, but has yet to hear back.
“Finding high levels of benzene in dry shampoos should be of great concern, as these products are likely to be used indoors, where benzene can remain and be inhaled for extended periods of time,” Light said in a press release Tuesday.
“These and other issues identified by Valisure, including the detection of benzene in body sprays, hand sanitizers and sunscreen products, underscore the importance of independent testing and its need to be better integrated into an increasingly complex and vulnerable global supply chain,” He said. added.
Last year, several deodorants and sunscreen products were recalled due to benzene detections.
Benzene is produced by natural and artificial processes. “Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke,” according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The main way people are exposed is by breathing air that contains benzene,” according to the American Cancer Society.
CNN’s Raena Charles contributed to this report.