This screenshot taken on Aug 15, 2023 shows the official website of the Consumer Council.

Hong Kong's consumer rights watchdog on Tuesday urged shoppers to be cautious in using dry shampoos, particularly aerosol sprays, as these may contain the carcinogen benzene.

The Consumer Council said it examined 21 models of dry shampoos and found that 11 aerosol products may have potential risk of benzene contamination due to the use of LPG components.

Benzene, which can be easily absorbed by the skin and may enter the body through skin contact and inhalation, has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The consumer watchdog advised consumers to choose and use dry shampoos with care, noting that cannot remove grease and dirt like shampoo with water, and that prolonged use may cause inflammation or affect hair growth

“Short-term inhalation of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Long-term exposure may increase the risk of anemia and leukemia,” the council said in a statement.

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The consumer watchdog advised consumers to choose and use dry shampoos with care, noting that cannot remove grease and dirt like shampoo with water, and that prolonged use may cause inflammation or affect hair growth.

According to the council, more than 60 percent of the products it surveyed were labeled as containing a relatively high concentration of denatured alcohol/alcohol, which might lead to dry hair if used excessively.

More than 50 percent of the items examined were labeled as fragrance allergens, with one brand labeled as containing up to eight types of fragrance allergens.

Toners

The council also warned that using toners containing high alcohol may cause dry skin and allergy. It tested 25 toner brands priced from HK$69 ($8.80) to HK$470 ($60), with nine of them found to have fragrance allergens. Ten other brands were found to contain alcohol, three of which had an alcoholic concentration of more than 10 percent, the highest being 34 percent.

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Using such products with high alcoholic content may accelerate the loss of moisture from the skin, resulting in dryness or even increasing the risks of allergy, the council said. A dermatologist advised that daily cleansing with a facial cleanser would be sufficient to remove dirt from the skin’s surface or its pores.

Plastic bags

The council also placed 69 trial orders with 11 online stores and e-commerce platforms involving 12 traders, to see how they charge plastic bags after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government implemented the enhanced plastic shopping bag fee on Dec 31, 2022. Retailers are required to charge at least HK$1 for each non-exempted plastic bag provided to customers, including online retail transactions.

It was found that only about 30 percent of the trial orders placed had accurate plastic bag or packaging charges. The council detected four major problems: The number of plastic bags had exceeded or fallen short of the required charge; plastic bags had been provided free of charge; consumers were charged, but no bag was provided; as well as variations in the number of bags provided and charges for orders placed for the same goods at different times.

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The council said it had received 39 complaints from consumers about being charged for grocery bags while shopping online from January to July this year. No such complaints were received between 2020 and 2022.