Is Benzene in Sunscreen?
Recent studies have revealed some concerning information about popular sunscreen products. Scientists tested 294 products, including some from well-known brands. These tests revealed that 27 percent of these products contained benzene. Neutrogena and Banana Boat were among the 40 batches that the study recommended the FDA to recall.
Some of these products contained high levels of benzene. In some cases, this was found to be over 6.2 parts per million. To put this into perspective, the FDA considers that it’s an emergency when a cosmetic product contains over 2 parts per million.
However, even a small amount of benzene is enough to damage your health. Because of this, there is no safe amount of benzene in sunscreen.
As yet, it’s not known why the benzene was in the sunscreen. It could have been introduced during the manufacturing process. But it’s also possible that some ingredients, like oxybenzone, might have interacted, producing benzene as a by-product. While these ingredients are allowed by the FDA, many manufacturers are starting to phase them out because they have been linked to benzene production.
Why is Benzene so Dangerous?
When benzene was found in sunscreen, many people in the healthcare industry were concerned. This is because of the serious health effects that can come from exposure to benzene. Most notable, the ability of benzene to cause cancers. This includes cancers like lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma.
When you apply sunscreen, the ingredients are absorbed by the skin. This allows the benzene to pass into the bloodstream. Once there, it can cause cancer. Because of the amount of sunscreen required to offer full-body protection, there is a high chance that applying it will give you a high dose of benzene. This is the reason why it is classed as a human carcinogen.
Do All Sunscreens Contain Benzene?
Not all products will contain benzene. However, it was found in several products from well-known brands. This includes household names like Neutrogena, Banana Boat, CSV, Aveeno, Walgreens, and Up and Up. However, several smaller brands were also found to contain benzene. This included the following:
- Raw Elements
- Coppertone
- Max Block
- Fruit of the Earth
- EltaMD
- Babyganics
- Sun Bum
- Solimo
- SunBurnt
The best way to make sure that your sunscreen doesn’t contain benzene is by switching to a mineral-based option. These form a protective barrier. Though, they won’t be absorbed by the skin. As a result, the benzene won’t be able to get into the bloodstream. If you have developed cancer, and you think that your sunscreen might be responsible, you can contact our legal team. We can help you get your sunscreen tested, to see if it contains any benzene.
What Can You do if You Were Using One of These Products?
If the sunscreen that you are using contained benzene, you should contact The Injury Firm today. Our defective product lawyers will be able to help you. We will be able to show that, by using their product, you were placed at risk. If you have developed cancer as a result of the benzene in your sunscreen, we can help get you damages. This will include compensation for any medical expenses incurred as part of your treatment. So, give us a call today to talk about your legal options.
Read More about Sunscreen and Cancer:
- https://flinjuryfirm.com/personal-injury-lawyers/class-action/sunscreen-caused-cancer
- https://flinjuryfirm.com/personal-injury-lawyers/blog/can-sunscreen-give-you-cancer/
- https://flinjuryfirm.com/personal-injury-lawyers/other-case-types/sunscreen-cancer
- https://flinjuryfirm.com/personal-injury-lawyers/is-there-any-sunscreen-that-doesn-t-have-benzene-in-it
