FDA Investigates Popular Sunscreen Brands Containing Known Carcinogen Benzene
As folks around the country gear up for summer, many might want to take a double look at the type of sunscreen they are using. Online pharmacy Valisure conducted a recent study that looked at samples from nearly 300 different lotion and spray sunscreen brands. These sample tests resulted in 78 products (27% of the products) testing positive for contamination of a known carcinogen, benzene.
Following their research, Valisure released a petition aimed at the FDA asking them to recall the sprays and lotions which tested positive for the chemical contamination. The FDA responded by stating, "The FDA takes seriously any safety concerns raised about products we regulate, including sunscreen."
Benzene is described as a colorless or light yellow liquid chemical when it is at room temperature, and it is unclear how the chemical was found in the sunscreen. Experts are unsure whether the chemical contaminated certain batches of the sunscreen while it was being made or if the contamination occurred as a result of the cooling and heating methods that take place during the manufacturing process of the sunscreen.
Valisure explains that benzene is used "primarily as a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries." They explain that this harmful chemical which is linked to blood cancers can be found in gasoline, glues, cigarette smoke, cleaning products, and paint strippers, among other things. According to Valisure, the samples that were tested "contained up to three times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million."
According to the CEO of Valisure, David Light, "Benzene is one of the most studied and concerning human carcinogens known to science. Its association with forming blood cancers in humans has been shown in numerous studies at trace levels of parts per million and below. The presence of this known human carcinogen in products widely recommended for the prevention of skin cancer and that are regularly used by adults and children is very troubling."
During testing, Valisure found that some of the nation's most popular sunscreen brands contained the harmful chemical. Products made by popular brands including Sun Bum, Neutrogena, Fruit of the Earth, and CVS Health all had some of the highest levels of contamination.
Along with alerting the public about their findings, Valisure is calling on the FDA to impose stricter regulations on how cosmetic companies test their products. Additionally, Valisure is urging the FDA to provide a better definition of contamination standards.
The parent company for Neutrogena, Johnson & Johnson, released a statement that explained "benzene is not an ingredient in any of our personal care products." The makers of Banana Boat also stood behind the safety of their products explaining that "our sun care products undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety and quality and meet all FDA regulations."
CVS has expressed that all of its products are also safe. In the statement, CVS explained, “We are in the process of reviewing and evaluating information in and related to Valisure's petition and we will respond accordingly."
While the news is alarming, Valisure also expressed the importance of protecting exposed skin during the hot summer months. They reiterated that while there was a significant percentage of sunscreens that tested positive for the contaminant, there were many other sunscreens that were deemed safe and benzene-free.
Along with releasing their FDA petition to the public, Valisure released a list of the products they tested that did not have the contaminants in them. Valisure has also announced to the public that they can turn in samples of their sunscreen to be tested as well. The FDA is reviewing the results provided by Valisure, and no official recalls have been announced by either the FDA or the makers of the sunscreen brands which tested positive.
