It’s a well-established scientific fact that sun exposure is linked to skin cancer. Sunscreen is a popular way to block the ultraviolet radiation associated with skin damage and protect against cancer. But evidence is emerging that certain types of sunscreen contain benzene, an industrial chemical that’s a known human carcinogen.
Dozens of sunscreen products recently tested positive for benzene—a chemical also found in gasoline and paint thinners—leading to demands for product recalls and questions about the safety of sunscreen chemicals. These new findings suggest that people who use sunscreen in an effort to avoid skin cancer may actually be increasing their risk of developing other types of cancers. Regular exposure to benzene, even at very low levels, is a major risk factor for blood tissue cancers such as leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma.
If you used a sunscreen containing benzene, and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be able to file a sunscreen cancer lawsuit. Contact us to find out if you qualify.
Laboratory testing performed by Valisure found that dozens of sunscreen and after-sun care products contain the industrial chemical benzene.;
The toxicity of benzene has been documented for more than 100 years. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies benzene as “carcinogenic to humans.” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also classified benzene as a human carcinogen. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates sunscreens and considered them drugs, classifies benzene as a “Class 1 solvent” that should not be used in the manufacture of drug substances and drug products.
Sunscreen that contains benzene could cause cancer. Although no specific studies have been performed on benzene sunscreens and cancer, samples of popular sunscreen brands tested by Valisure detected benzene. Valisure cites Dr. Christopher Bunick, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Yale University, who says that, “There is not a safe level of benzene that can exist in sunscreen products.”
When sunscreen containing benzene is applied to the skin, the body absorbs it and the chemical enters the bloodstream, where it can cause cancer. IARC notes that benzene exposure is linked to acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Not all sunscreens contain benzene. However, Valisure’s research indicates that many popular sunscreen brands do contain benzene. These brands include:
Valisure analyzed nearly 300 unique batches from dozens of sunscreen brands and detected benzene in 78 product batches, including 26 products with benzene levels between 0.1 parts per million (ppm) and 2 ppm, and 14 products with benzene levels over 2 ppm. “Even benzene at 0.1 ppm in a sunscreen could expose people to excessively high nanogram amounts of benzene,” Dr. Christopher Bunick told Valisure.
Multiple types of Neutrogena sunscreen were found by Valisure to contain benzene. Specific Neutrogena products in which benzene was detected include:
Johnson & Johnson, the company that owns Neutrogena, issued a voluntary recall of some Neutrogena sunscreen products in response to Valisure testing results. J&J said that benzene is not an ingredient in any of its sunscreen products and that the recall is being done out of “an abundance of caution.”
The sunscreens that Valisure tested do not list benzene as an active ingredient. Therefore, Valisure concludes, benzene-positive sunscreens may have somehow been contaminated. But many batches of sunscreen that Valisure tested contain no detectable benzene, including brands by the following manufacturers:
Notably, many of the brands with sunscreen products on this list also make sunscreens that tested positive for benzene. You can see the full list of sunscreen batches for which benzene was not detected.
Oxybenzone is a common active ingredient in sunscreens. The FDA says that oxybenzone is safe, but environmental and health groups have concerns over the chemical.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) calls oxybenzone “the most worrisome sunscreen active ingredient.” It’s been shown to cause allergic skin reactions, behave like an endocrine disruptor (i.e., interfere with normal hormone function), and is potentially more harmful to children. A rat study from the National Toxicology Program links oxybenzone to “equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity.” And beginning in 2021, Hawaii is banning sunscreen products containing oxybenzone due to concerns that the ingredient damages coral reefs .
Sunscreen is supposed to prevent skin cancer—not cause it. Serious questions remain about how benzene ended up in these products and what the manufacturers knew, or should have known, about cancer causing ingredients in sunscreen. What’s certain is that a known human carcinogen has no place in any product, never mind one that is intended to be applied every day, for a lifetime.
McKay Law is one of the best personal injury law firms in the U.S. McKay Law is investigating the link between sunscreen and cancer. Many sunscreen brands are owned by large multinational companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co. Taking on a big company requires a big law firm. We have a proven track record of representing the people, against the powerful, and achieving incredible results.
Did you use a sunscreen that, unbeknownst to you or your doctor, contains benzene? Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Our Johnson & Johnson Sunscreen lawsuit lawyers are ready to review your claim and let you know how we can help. Get in touch with McKay Law for a no-cost, no-obligation case review. We are actively filing claims now and you do not want to miss being paid in the first group of damage awards.
Free consultation 24/7 with McKay Law’s Johnson & Johnson Sunscreen lawsuit / Neutrogena sunscreen cancer lawsuit lawyers. Call us today or submit your case.
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Lindsey McKay is a dedicated trial attorney with experience and drives to get the best results for her clients. We handle personal injury cases that involve the following matters: drunk driving accidents, nursing home negligence, uninsured or underinsured motorists, motor vehicle accidents, sexual abuse, product liability, auto defects, animal bites, work-related injuries, medical negligence and fatalities.
