Study: Some Suntan Lotions Contain Cancer-Causing Chemical | El Nuevo Herald Some popular sunscreens contain cancer-causing chemical, study says

Health

by CBS

Valisure, an online pharmacy and drugstore, has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to order recalls of some popular suntan lotions and skin care products after a study concluded they contained a chemical which is known to cause cancer.

After extensive testing by Valisure, dozens of sunscreens and other products were found to contain benzene, a chemical linked to blood cancers.

Benzene is a known carcinogen and was found in 27 percent of the sprays and lotions tested, products sold by Neutrogena, Banana Boat, and CVS.

"The problem with benzene is that it can cause leukemia, anemia, and the like," said Jon Lapook, chief medical officer at CVS.

Lapook said one of the things the FDA will look at is how the chemical got into the products.

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Johnson and Johnson, the maker of Neutrogena products, told CBS News, "Benzene is not an ingredient in any of our personal care products."

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CVS said the products it sells are safe, and "are in the process of being reviewed, and information related to the Valisure petition will be evaluated, and we will respond accordingly."

For its part, the maker of Banana Boat said: “Our skin care products undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety and quality, and that they comply with all FDA regulations.

Not all products from these brands had benzene.

David Light, founder and president of Valisure, said he believed the problem is contamination affecting specific batches. Although the source of the contaminant is unknown and more products tested have passed the tests than have not, Light urged manufacturers and consumers alike to take the matter seriously.

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Light said he has asked the FDA to better define contamination standards, and to "fix current regulatory failures on benzene in both drug and cosmetic products."

Valisure asks the public to submit their own samples of sunscreens and other skin care products for evaluation.

The company also made public its request to the FDA, where a list of batches with detected levels of benzene appears. Products can be found on pages 12 to 15.

Valisure told consumers that they shouldn't stop using sunscreens, but should continue to do so.

For a list of sunscreens and other products that Valisure tested and found to be benzene-free, see this link.

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This story was originally published on June 3, 2021 at 1:26 pm.