Benzene deodorant & antiperspirant claims

Over 20K people are diagnosed with leukemia every year due to benzene contamination

Any individual that has come to struggle with cancer after using contaminated deodorants and antiperspirants should reach out to our leukemia attorneys and find out how they can gain financial compensation for their struggle.

A set of eligibility requirements must first be met to file a toxic deodorant claim against the liable manufacturers.

• Must have used benzene-contaminated 24h, 48h, or 72h deodorants consistently for at least 1 year
• Must have applied contaminated deodorants 4 to 5 times a week

• Must have at least 6 months of usage before being diagnosed with:

• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

• Must have been diagnosed with leukemia after 2016/2017

In order to qualify, demonstrating the sustained use of benzene-contaminated deodorants over a prolonged period is crucial since only long-term exposure holds a definitive connection to the onset and development of cancer. If you meet these criteria, our highly experienced attorneys can help you obtain the compensation you're entitled to.

We encourage you to seek us out even if you have doubts about qualifying under the criteria listed above, as every case is unique with its own complexities, and you could actually be eligible.

Aerosol deodorant brands that have been found to contain benzene

Valisure notes that exposure to benzene only occurs with spray deodorants and antiperspirants, most likely due to the chemicals used as propellants to dispense the deodorant out of the can.

Regardless of the source, benzene concentrations in some deodorants have been reported to be almost 9 times higher than acceptable FDA levels.

Valisure's independent research analyzed 108 unique batches from 30 separate brands. They identified benzene contamination in deodorants from leading brands like:

• Old Spice
• Secret
• Tag
• Sure
• Equate
• Suave
• Right Guard
• Brut

Although concentration variability in a single brand could differ from batch to batch, products from the brands mentioned above were found to contain benzene levels between 2.24 and 17.7 ppm. Individuals that used any of the following 24h, 48h, or 72h deodorants should cease applying them immediately.

If you have been using one of the deodorants found to contain benzene, you can now request a safe, non-toxic product by virtue of our Benzene Deodorant Replacement Initiative.

Companies liable for benzene-contaminated deodorants

Individuals that filed lawsuits against one or more of the manufacturers whose deodorants and antiperspirants contained benzene will be awarded financial compensation if the companies are found responsible for acting in a negligent, reckless or intentional manner.

Manufacturers' actions may be deemed intentional if they knew about the benzene content in their products beforehand and chose to ignore the issue, either out of convenience or to save money on expensive testing for toxic contaminants. 

As a result, companies such as Procter & Gamble (Old Spice, Secret), Unilever (Suave), HRB Brands LLC (Sure, Brut), My Imports USA (Tag), Thriving Brands LLC (Right Guard), and Walmart (Equate) could face a series of strict liability, product liability, and negligence claims, including:

• defective design
• manufacturing defect
• failure to warn
• improper warning labels
• consumer fraud
• deceptive trade practices
• negligence per se
• gross negligence
• fraudulent concealment
• fraudulent misrepresentation
• negligent misrepresentation
• breach of implied warranties

Voluntary recall of benzene-contaminated deodorants

On November 23, 2021, Procter & Gamble (P&G) issued a voluntary recall of 18 specific Old Spice and Secret brand aerosol spray deodorants with expiry dates through September 2023, citing "an abundance of caution" after benzene contamination was detected.

Even in small concentrations, benzene's toxicity poses a significant health threat, especially considering how many people consistently apply it once or multiple times a day.

Even though P&G's recall could be regarded as ethical, it has faced lawsuits over its benzene-contaminated deodorants, which has recently seen the company settling out of court for an undisclosed amount. In February 2022, HRB Brands LLC recalled several Brut and Sure branded antiperspirant and deodorant products due to benzene being detected. Consequently, consumers are advised to stop using and safely dispose of any of the following products if their expiration date is before August 2023.

On March 30, 2022, Unilever also issued a recall of 2 products that were discontinued in October 2021 for "business reasons" after sample testing found "slightly elevated" benzene levels.

Since benzene is not an ingredient in any of the previously named products, contamination likely occurred from chemicals used as spray propellants like propane, butane, isobutane, and hydrofluorocarbon 152a.

Benzene contamination is a serious health hazard

It should be noted that benzene is not one of the ingredients in the formulation of deodorants and antiperspirants. The issue stems from contamination during the manufacturing process, as this is how benzene ends up in these products.

At room temperature, benzene is an opaque or slightly-yellow, highly-flammable liquid with a sweet smell; it's used in manufacturing rubber, dyes, plastic, and pesticide products and can be naturally created by wildfires or erupting volcanoes.

Several federal and international organizations, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), categorize benzene as a significant health hazard that can lead to the onset of multiple types of cancers. In the US, benzene is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which classifies the substance as a class 1 solvent.

The FDA stresses that drug companies should not use benzene when manufacturing their products. However, its presence is tolerated in a limited range of drugs that provide significant therapeutic advance but is restricted to only 2 parts per million (ppm). Concurrently, the EPA set a maximum permissible level of only 5 parts per billion (ppb) for benzene in drinking water.

When individuals apply 48h benzene deodorants on their skin, the benzene is absorbed, ending up in the bloodstream, and carried to other tissues and organs. A systematic review of the available medical research notes that benzene is considered to trigger cancer development due to its adverse effects on the immune system and its propensity to cause chronic inflammation. Benzene from contaminated 24h, 48h, or 72h deodorants can accumulate in the body as a result of chronic exposure, placing individuals that regularly use them at an elevated risk of cancer.

Updates & timeline for benzene deodorants

Although the issue of benzene in antiperspirant and deodorant products is reasonably new, multiple developments have taken place over the past year, including recalls issued by major companies and lawsuits filed by consumers exposed to contaminated deodorants. The following timeline highlights the most significant events concerning benzene-contaminated deodorants: