Avoiding sunscreen over benzene concerns could prove more harmful than exposure to trace amounts of benzene itself. Spray sunscreen in particular has garnered notable attention recently after Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled five sunblocks containing "low levels" of benzene, a carcinogen that can be . Benzene is a volatile chemical compound that can impact immediate health and influence cancer risk; health experts worry that benzene-contaminated sunscreens pose a risk for unintentional absorption over time. Mexoryl SX is a UV filter used in sunscreens and lotions across the globe. Benzene, the contaminant Valisure detected in the 78 products, is a component of gasoline and a frequently used solvent for rubber and waxes. The case centers on a May 2021 citizen petition filed by Valisure after the firm conducted testing on various sunscreen products, including Banana Boat sprays and . Recalls were triggered after independent laboratory testing of 294 unique batches of popular sunscreen and after-sun products from 69 different companies detected elevated levels of benzene in 78 (or 27%) of the samples. But let's make one thing clear upfront: Benzene is not an ingredient in sunscreen and never has been.This is an issue of manufacturing contamination, not sunscreen formulations that pose health risks. The large amount of sunscreen products that are presumably safe and free of Benzene should be used in conjunction with other sun protection measures like wearing hats, sunglasses, covering up when outdoors, and avoiding direct sunlight between 10:00AM and 2:00PM. Are Benzene Contaminated Sunscreens Safe to Use? Study Finds Harmful Ingredients in Sunscreen—How to Choose ... The latest are stemming from a study by Valisure, an independent, for-profit pharmacy and research testing lab . 11 best mineral sunscreens of 2021, according to ... Each may pose hazards to human health. Benzene is not an ingredient in any of P&G's products, but a review found unexpected levels of the carcinogen in the propellant that sprays the product from the can, the company said. Sunscreen: Valisure report and products that are safe ... [Update] RE: Benzene content in TJ's sunscreen : traderjoes Missing 9-year-old in Pelzer found safe Man, 45, arrested for . June 23, 2021 By Law Offices of Thomas J. Lamb, P.A. Each uses a different mechanism for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. RELATED: 10 Oxybenzone-Free Sunscreens That Offer Protection Without Harming Coral Reefs "Yes, some sunscreens were found to be contaminated with benzene, but they were pulled off the market quickly. It is not an ingredient in sunscreens but is suspected to be a contaminant from raw materials used in the product's manufacture. Sunscreen is supposed to protect us from the deadly effects of UV radiation, not cause cancer or other life-threatening conditions. 5 Safe Sunscreens That Skincare Professionals Recommend ... The trouble with ingredients in sunscreens | EWG's Guide ... Exposure to benzene in . "Just because those particular products do pose a risk, that doesn't erase the. You can read the full Valisure report here, which includes the lists of sunscreens found to contain various levels of benzene, from harmless to questionable to toxic. Study finds leukemia and other cancer causing benzene in 78 popular sunscreens. Sunscreens: Benzene Exposure Risk - Canadian Dermatology ... At SkinDC we recommend mineral/physical sun protection over chemical sunscreens. Is My Sunscreen Safe? > News > Yale Medicine Edgewell Personal Care Australia Pty Ltd is recalling all batches of the following 'Banana Boat' sunscreen sprays (aerosol sunscreen) because benzene has been detected in 4 batches of the products supplied in Australia.. The FDA is seeking more information about the potential risks from common sunscreen ingredients. Are Benzene Contaminated Sunscreens Safe to Use? "While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our sunscreen products, it was detected in some samples of the impacted aerosol sunscreen finished products," Johnson & Johnson wrote in a July 14 . We definitely shouldn't avoid sunscreens. Safe Sunscreen Guidelines. Sunscreens are still relatively new. The FDA takes seriously any safety concerns raised about products we regulate, including sunscreens. Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. The lawsuit claims the Banana Boat sunscreens are unsuitable for human application given there is, according to the World Health Organization, "no safe level of benzene" exposure. Nearly 80 sunscreen products were found to contain toxic levels of benzene, a known carcinogen.Among these, Neutrogena products made up 10 of the 14 batches with the highest concentrations of benzene. Every Think product, especially our non toxic sunscreens, are rigorously tested and vetted to prevent our customers from being exposed to biologically harmful chemicals. The results show that our sunscreens do not contain benzene with the exception of the Face and Body Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 (SKU 99200). There are plenty of safe and effective mineral formulas available to protect your face and body from sun damage and the common signs of aging. Benzene contaminations aside, sunscreen is still safe and recommended for daily use. Since our March 2021 article, " Testing Shows High Levels of Benzene Found In Hand Sanitizers ", more research has shown the carcinogen benzene contaminated 78 different sunscreens and sun care products. "Even . Is sunscreen safe? 5) develop guidance documents for the analysis of benzene in sunscreen products; 6) review and update the current FDA guidance "Q3C - Tables and List, Guidance for Industry" to include guidance for the acceptable concentration of benzene for drug products, such as sunscreens, that do not require benzene for manufacturing and do not (They've compiled a complete list of affected items with batch numbers here . Dr. Daniel: They found that benzene was in a good number of sunscreens and a lot of them, if you're looking at common themes, were spray skin sunscreens. The FDA considers benzene a "Class 1 Solvent" and outlaws its use in most cosmetics and most medical products. Discovered by pharmacy group Valisure, which routinely audits consumer goods, the report shows benzene contamination in 78 of the 294 products tested. Each uses a different mechanism for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. "There is not a safe level of benzene that can exist in sunscreen products," Christopher Bunick, MD,. The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. A new study by Valisure LLC examined sunscreen and after-sun care products and found that 78 of them contained high levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen — which means it is known to cause . Replace contaminated sunscreen with products that you can trust, referencing Valisure's "safe" list for products with no detectable benzene. Receive safe, non-toxic sunscreen from ethical companies. These products typically include a combination of two to six of these active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone . A petition has been initiated to recall sunscreen products including Neutrogena, Aveeno, and other well-known . After trusting the benefits of sunscreen for decades, news that several sunscreen brands had benzene, a chemical linked to blood cancers such as leukemia, left many consumers curious as to whether or not sunscreen is the safest way to protect their skin from UV rays. The petition requested that the FDA recall specific batches of certain sunscreen products containing benzene on the basis that they are adulterated under section 501 of the Federal Drug and Cosmetic Act ("FDCA") and misbranded under section 502 of the FDCA. Recent findings by Valisure labs found that many household sunscreens contain benzene—prompting J&J's recall of Aveeno and Neutrogena. Remember, the best sunscreen is the one you are going to use," esthetician Cassandra Bankson tells . Of the 78 batches with detectable levels, 40 products were found to have "significantly detected" levels of benzene. Benzene in sunscreen . Benzene was found in 43 out of 224 sunscreens and in 8 of 48 after-sun products. Recently, levels of benzene were detected in a number of popular sunscreens and sun care products due to contamination. These SPF formulas do not contain oxybenzone, a common chemical sunscreen ingredient that contributes to coral bleaching in places like Hawaii and the Caribbean. Ava Isa. They want the FDA to recall 40 sunscreen and after-sun care products found to contain the highest levels of benzene. The purpose of this testing was to determine if benzene was present in these . A recent independent US investigation of 294 unique batches of sunscreen and after-sun products found detectable levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, in 78 products (27%). You can read the full Valisure report here, which includes the lists of sunscreens found to contain various levels of benzene, from harmless to questionable to toxic. Review the full list of products that tested positive for benzene and their ppm levels to be sure the sunscreen you are using this summer is safe. "There is not a safe level of benzene that can exist in sunscreen products," stated Dr. Christopher Bunick, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale University, in Valisure's press release . Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It is not an ingredient in sunscreens but is suspected to be a contaminant from raw materials used in product manufacture. In July, Johnson & Johnson recalled some Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens after low levels of benzene were found in products. While benzene can enter the bloodstream through skin, aerosols sunscreens offer another pathway, through the lungs. Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas. Read more at the Bare Republic blog. RELATED: 10 Oxybenzone-Free Sunscreens That Offer Protection Without Harming Coral Reefs "Yes, some sunscreens were found to be contaminated with benzene, but they were pulled off the market quickly. The sunscreen chemicals tested include avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate, and all six active ingredients tested readily absorbed into the bloodstream of humans in the study — and at concentrations that surpass an important FDA safety threshold. The total mass of sunscreen required to cover and protect the human body, in single daily application or repeated applica-tions daily, means that even benzene at 0.1 ppm in a sunscreen could expose people to excessively high nanogram amounts of benzene."5 EWG scientists rated more than 1,800 sunscreens and other products with SPF. 06/07/2021 . Active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters. Experts still advocate for regular sunscreen use, citing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as two of the safest and most effective actives. Benzene is not an ingredient in sunscreens. While benzene can enter the bloodstream through skin, aerosols sunscreens offer another pathway, through the lungs. Furthermore, 14 of the products contained up to 3 times the allowable FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million (ppm) (1). Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, a substance that could potentially cause cancer depending on the level and extent of exposure. This level is more than 11 times below the recognized International guidance adopted by the U.S. FDA for benzene as a residual solvent in drug products. Dr. Daniel: So benzene is a compound that is usually produced in . Among sunscreens, the highest average concentrations of benzene (2 ppm to 6 ppm) were in four sprays from the same brand -- although many other sprays and . Which sunscreens were found to contain benzene? $45.00. The contaminated sunscreens include both chemical and mineral formulas. In late May, Valisure, an independent quality assurance company in New Haven, Conn., detected high levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen, in 78 sunscreen and after-sun care products.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates sunscreen as a drug product and after-sun products as a cosmetic. Yes, the sun protection you may apply to prevent cancer has been linked to actually causing cancer. Valisure, a pharmaceutical laboratory that tests products for consumer safety, found that 78 sunscreens and after sun care products were contaminated with benzene.Levels of benzene ranged from low to very very high.. You will see many familiar and popular brands listed as benzene contaminated including brands that strive to be natural and have a commitment to safety. SHOP NOW. The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. This sunscreen lotion has one ingredient that has the potential for benzene as an impurity, but the final level in the finished product is far below the legal FDA 2 PPM limit. The important piece of it is that the companies did not know that those things were in their sunscreens. It is also used in the extraction of oils from seeds. The key to a truly effective sunscreen is applying every 2 hours, or possibly more if you are swimming. Safe Sunscreen Guidelines. While Bare Republic was found to NOT contain benzene, here's our take on what this means for sunscreen safety, ingredients, and your sun routine. The fact that the Valisure tests found trace amounts of benzene present in certain batches of sunscreen is because it is likely a contaminant. Receive safe, non-toxic sunscreen from ethical companies. Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, a substance that could potentially cause cancer depending on the level and extent of exposure. Shop our top reef-safe sunscreen . Released: July 15, 2021. We definitely shouldn't avoid sunscreens. Several common household brands — including Sun Bum, Neutrogena, Banana Boat, and CVS-brand sunscreen — were all found to contain unsafe levels of benzene, according to Valisure's test. While the amount of the chemical in sunscreen was small, no exposure is safe, experts said. Reviewing the latest Benzene sunscreen scandal, what it means for the consumer and sharing the tested and verified safe sunscreens to use and the sunscreens . We also recommend consulting with your medical aesthetician or dermatologist to identify products from trusted skincare lines that will be well-suited to your skin's overall needs. The formula is also lightly tinted, water-resistant, and oil-free. The alarm bells are ringing, but all is not lost. It's worth noting that benzene isn't an ingredient in any of the sunscreens tested (or any sunscreens at all, for that matter)—rather, it's a byproduct of the manufacturing process that's often detectable in raw materials derived from petrochemicals and petroleum and can be found in trace amounts in some synthetic fragrances.