After enduring more than a year of highly restrictive living, men, women, and children from across the country have been beyond enthusiastic about returning to more normal living as we enter into the summer of 2021. As a result, sunscreen sales have been brisk and are expected to continue apace throughout coming weeks. Unfortunately, a startling finding from a study reveal that nearly 80 widely used sunscreen as well as post-sun exposure products have been found to be contaminated with cancer-causing Benzene.
Contamination of Sunscreen Products
Benzene in any amount is not a substance used in the production of sunscreen products. Rather, the researchers who conducted the research in question have concluded that benzene has found its way into certain sunscreens in some manner during the manufacturing process.
Researchers have also discovered that benzene contamination is not necessarily found across the board in regard to a particular brand of sunscreen. In other words, some batches of a particular typed of sunscreen may be contaminated while other batches are not. There, in regard to sunscreen brands, some containers might contain contaminated product while other containers of precisely the same brand may not.
Possible FDA Recall of Sunscreen and After-Sun Products
According to the study, of the 80 different products in which Benzene has been detected, 40 of them were discovered to have levels of benzene that researchers argue warrants a recall from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA. The researchers have petitioned the FDA to take precisely this action in order to protect consumers.
As of this moment, the FDA has not yet responded to the request for recall of sunscreens that are now believed to contain high levels of benzene. There is no indication as of mid-June as to when and how the FDA will respond to this report. Due to the nature of the concerns reported about benzene contamination, it is expected that the FDA is likely to at least announce its intended course of action, if any, in the not too distant future.
Sunscreen Brands Found Contaminated with Benzene
Bear in mind that not all products for each of these sunscreen manufacturers has been found to contain excessive levels of benzene. With that said, these manufacturers have produced sunscreen and after-sun products that were found to contain inappropriate levels of benzene.
In order to ascertain whether a specific product may be contaminated, attention must be paid to batch numbers. However, there will be products on the market that contain excessive benzene that were not identified by the research study in question.
Sunscreen brands found to contain potentially unsafe levels of benzene include:
- Neutrogena
- Banana Boat
- CVS Health
- Fruit of the Earth
- Raw Elements
- Sun Bum
- Top Care Everyday
- EltaMD
- Coppertone
- Walgreens
- Max Block
Products found to contain excessive levels of cancer-causing benzene came in different formulations:
- Lotion
- Gel
- Spray
Why is Benzene Harmful?
The long-term effects of benzene include developing cancer. Specifically, benzene is known to cause leukemia. The chemical can also result in other health problems as well.
What to Do Next
If you find that you’ve been using sunscreen product that contains a higher level benzene, there are a number of steps you need to take. First, you need to safely dispose of the product. One way you can accomplish this by taking the contaminated product to a local pharmacy.
Second, you should make an appointment with your primary care physician. Explain to your doctor that you worry you may have run the risk of exposure to benzene through the use of a sunscreen or after-screen product.
If you or a loved one believe that you have been exposed to benzene for a more extended period of time (for a year or longer), consider consulting a Doan Law Firm personal injury attorney. You can connect with a benzene exposure lawyer any time of the day or night by calling our firm at (800) 349-0000.
A nationwide law firm, we can schedule an initial consultation with a benzene exposure attorney at any one of out 40 offices located from coast to coast in the United States. There is never a charge for an initial consultation with one of your personal injury lawyers.
The Doan Law Firm makes an attorney fee promise to you. We will never charge an attorney fee unless we win your case for you.