More Than 70 Sunscreens Should Be Recalled Over Cancer-Causing Ingredient, Says Lab

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Valisure, an independent lab, has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove 78 sunscreens from the market after testing revealed they contained benzene – a known human carcinogen.  

In a letter to the regulator dated May 24, 2021, Valisure says that multiple sunscreens it tested contained far more benzene than health agencies deem safe – up to 400 times more. The 78 sunscreens tested, including sprays and lotions, as well as after-sun gels, including popular brands, such as Neutrogena, Banana Boat, Babyganics, Aveeno, CVS Health, and others.  

Valisure says that it tested 300 popular sunscreens and found that a whopping 27 percent of them contained benzene. Benzene has been linked to cancer, including blood cancer and leukemia, as well as other health conditions.

Currently, regulators recommend no exposure to the substance. Alternatively, if some exposure is required as a part of medical treatment, regulators say that it should be less than 2 parts per million (ppm). The lab says that some of the sunscreen products it tested contained more than three times that amount. 

Valisure points out that sunscreen is marketed as a way to prevent skin cancer, particularly in children. Indeed, many consumers use the product multiply times each day, leaving it on the skin to be absorbed – potentially exposing themselves to another cancer-causing agent, warns the lab.  

“The presence of this known human carcinogen in sunscreen products widely recommended for the prevention of skin cancer and regularly used by adults and children in large volumes makes this finding especially troubling,” states Valisure’s letter, which also provides a list of sunscreens containing benzene.  

A number of class action lawsuits have been filed against the makers of some popular sunscreens, including CVS, Fruit of the Earth, Blue Lizard, and Coppertone.  

In its letter, Valisure urges the FDA to issue guidance on permissible daily exposure of benzene, in addition to demanding a recall of products that contain the chemical.  

Valisure is an independent lab that was responsible for discovering that the active ingredient in the popular heartburn medication Zantac had been contaminated with the carcinogen n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), leading to a massive recall.  

In addition to testing sunscreens, the lab has tested hand sanitizers, warning the FDA in an earlier letter about cancer-causing ingredients in the product that has become ubiquitous during the coronavirus pandemic.  

“It is unfortunately apparent that benzene contamination is a broad and very concerning issue in the American consumer product supply chain and underscores the critical need for independent testing,” David Light, CEO of Valisure said in a statement last week. “It is imperative for FDA to expeditiously address current regulatory gaps regarding benzene in both drug and cosmetic products, and we urge FDA and manufacturers to quickly investigate and remove contaminated products from the market.” 

The FDA reportedly says that it is reviewing the information.  

Are you concerned about the ingredients in your sunscreen? Tell us about it in the comment section below! 

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