(Yicai Global) Sept. 8 -- Some Procter & Gamble Co. [NYSE:PG] shampoos contain more dioxane, a colorless liquid with a sweet odor that is linked to organ toxicity, than the European Union's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety recommends, a Hong Kong Consumer Council test report of 60 shampoos showed.

More than 60 percent of shampoos have dioxane, the report said. Dioxane content in 7 shampoos was above 10 parts per million, the level the SCCS suggests. Six of them were products from brands under Procter & Gamble, including Vidal Sassoon, Pantene, Clairol and Head & Shoulders. The other one was Elence 2001, Beijing Business Today reported yesterday.

Dioxane is a common aprotic solvent that producers frequently use to make solvents, emulsifiers and detergents. It is a skin, eye and respiratory system irritant and may cause damage to livers, kidneys and nervous systems.

P&G never adds dioxane to its shampoos and is committed to reducing their dioxane content, a representative from the company told Beijing Business Today.

Dioxane found in cosmetics is a by-product of the production process. Dioxane in petroleum chemicals remains in the products during production and deep processing due to technical constraints.

High concentrations of dioxane in raw materials is the most likely source of an elevated dioxane level in a product, an insider told Beijing Business Today. Changing raw materials and subsequent suffixation treatments can reduce the amount of dioxane or eliminate it completely, she said.