Benzene Contamination Found in Sunscreen, Antifungal, Antiperspirant Spray Products

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Benzene Aerosol Product Contamination Overview: 

• Who: Benzene has led to the recall of a number of aerosol products this year, including antifungal sprays, antiperspirant sprays and after-sun care products such as sunscreen. 
• Why: Benzene, a known human carcinogen, has been discovered by independent labs in various sprays, including sunscreen products, including Neutrogena, Banana Boat, Aveeno, and others, Old Spice, Axe, Dove, and other major brands of antiperspirants, as well as antifungal sprays made by Bayer. 
• Where: Benzene contamination has led to nationwide recalls this year. 

The cancer-causing chemical benzene keeps showing up in companies’ aerosol products — namely antifungal, underarm, and sunscreen sprays. 

Indeed, an independent lab says that it discovered benzene in multiple antiperspirant sprays in a citizens petition submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. The announcement comes after multiple other spray products were subject to recall and even legal action concerning benzene contamination. 

Last month, Bayer announced a recall on a number of batches of its Lotrimin and Tinactin antifungal sprays due to the discovery of benzene contamination. 

The announcement from Bayer came only one day after Coppertone announced a recall after benzene was found in 12 lots of its sunscreen sprays. 

Benzene Deemed Carcinogenic by Multiple Agencies 

Benzene has been classified as a human carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Services, the World Health Organization, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. 

While Bayer reassured consumers that the benzene levels it discovered in its products “are not expected to cause adverse health consequences,” it also revealed the chemical was not supposed to be an ingredient. 

Exposure to benzene can cause a person to suffer a number of initial symptoms, including drowsiness, vomiting, confusion, and tremors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Long-term exposure, meanwhile, can negatively affect the immune system, damage bone marrow, decrease red cells, and lead to leukemia and other cancers affecting blood-forming organs, according to the CDC. 

Lab Discovers Benzene in Major Underarm Sprays Brands Like Old Spice, Secret, Dove, and Axe In addition To Spray Sunscreen

Most recently, benzene was discovered in antiperspirant sprays, including Old Spice, Secret, Dove, Axe, and multiple other brands, according to Valisure, an independent analytical laboratory. 

Reports of widespread benzene contamination first sprung up in June after Valisure revealed an investigation found the chemical in products from a number of major sunscreen brands. 

Of the 300 sunscreens tested by Valisure, 27 percent came back positive for containing benzene — with the lab determining that benzene contamination was not “unavoidable” and that any significant detection was “unacceptable.”  

Valisure ultimately requested the Food and Drug Administration remove 78 sunscreens from the market, including from major brands such as Neutrogena, Banana Boat, Babyganics, Aveeno, CVS Health, and others. 

The report has already led to legal fallout. Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, for instance, including by a plaintiff in California who argues the company should have warned consumers that its sunscreen products contained benzene. 

Another class action lawsuit was filed against Johnson & Johnson by a consumer in Florida who argues the company continues to market and sell the benzene-contaminated products, despite recalling them.  

Click the link to see if you qualify to join a class action lawsuit investigation into toxins in skincare (links to paid attorney advertisement). 

The plaintiffs in the mentioned class action lawsuits are represented by Chris Glover and David B. Byrne III of Beasley, Allen, Crow Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., Seth Meyer, Alex Dravillas, and Warren Postman of Keller Lenkner LLC, Alexandra Walsh and Kimberly Channick of Walsh Law PLLC, Lawrence G. Papale of the Law Offices of Lawrence G. Papale, and James M. Terrell and Courtney C. Gipson of Methvin, Terrell, Yancey, Stephens & Miller, P.C.

The J&J Sunscreen Benzene Contamination Class Action Lawsuits are Goodwin, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-61890, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida; and, Bodle v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., Case No. 3:21-cv-07742, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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