In a statement provided to Live Science, the FDA said it is reviewing the petition.
#BENZENE IN SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS HOW TO#
How to choose a sunscreen that protects you How long does sunscreen last before It expires? 5 things you didn't know about sunscreen Christopher Bunick, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale University, said in the statement. "It is critical that regulatory agencies address benzene contamination in sunscreens … so that all individuals feel safe using sunscreen products," Dr. Since benzene wasn't detected in most of the sunscreens Valisure tested, the company says that the use of benzene in sunscreens is not "unavoidable," and any detectable amount of the chemical shouldn't be allowed. So Valisure is also calling on the FDA to set a limit for benzene levels in sunscreen and other drug products in standard situations, and to set a limit for exposure in a single day. The 2 ppm limit applies only to the "special circumstances" outlined by the agency. Nearly all of the 14 sunscreen products with benzene levels above 2 ppm were sprays but the chemical also showed up in lotions and sunburn-relief gels.Īlthough the FDA says benzene should not be used in the manufacturing of drugs, the agency does not define a specific limit for drugs like sunscreen (The FDA regulates sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug.).
#BENZENE IN SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS FULL#
A full list of the sunscreen products with benzene can be found in the petition. In light of its new findings of benzene in sunscreens, Valisure has petitioned the FDA to recall the 78 products and to conduct its own investigation into the manufacturing of these products. But in March 2021, Valisure announced they had detected benzene above this level in nearly two dozen hand sanitizer products, at least one of which was later recalled. In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a shortage of hand sanitizer, the FDA temporarily allowed hand sanitizers to contain up to 2 ppm of benzene. In these cases, benzene levels should be limited to 2 ppm "unless otherwise justified," the FDA says. The FDA says that benzene should not be used in the manufacturing of drug products except in special circumstances, mainly if their use is unavoidable and the drug product makes a significant therapeutic advance. The Environmental Protection Agency limits benzene in drinking water to 0.005 ppm, or 5 parts per billion (ppb), which is also the limit for bottled water. Occupational Safety & Health Administration limits workplace exposure to benzene in the air to 1 ppm on an average day and a maximum of 5 ppm over a 15-minute period, according to the American Cancer Society.
Exposure to high levels of benzene causes cancer in humans, particularly blood cancer, including leukemia.
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