A carcinogen is found in sunscreen: this is what you need to know - Walla! health

2021-07-19T12:13:25.081Z

An independent test found a high-level cancer chemical in some sunscreen products. What products are the carcinogenic substance in and how did it get into them? The details in the article >>>

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A carcinogen is found in sunscreen: this is what you need to know

An independent test found a high-level cancer chemical in some sunscreen products.

What products are the carcinogenic substance in and how did it get into them?

Foods that you really should not order in delivery in this heat

To the full article

The Neutrogena and Aveeno brands recently removed several types of sunscreens from the shelves after an independent test revealed that they contained a carcinogenic chemical called benzene.

According to information published by the National Cancer Institute: "Exposure to benzene increases the risk of developing leukemia and other blood diseases."

Independent examinations held a wide range of products that contain protection factors and inputs used to treat skin after sun exposure, presence of benzene found in some well Other products, but not all, are also sold in Israel. The vast majority of sunscreens tested were found to be safe to use and found not to contain benzene. Accelerated aging of the skin.

"This is not a reason to stop using sunscreens."

Woman sprays sunscreen (Photo: ShutterStock)

"This is not a reason to stop using sunscreens, which are known to be effective in preventing skin cancer. Anyone who does such a thing is like hearing that there was a malfunction in a particular car model and as a result swearing never to drive again," wrote Dr. Renella Hirsch, a dermatologist and former at the head of the American Association of dermatology, cosmetic medicine and aesthetic, consider Instagram its response to the inquiry on carcinogenic substances, ceramic protection.

the products were removed from sale following the presence of benzene is a carcinogen are 5 sprays sun: Beach defense, Cool Dry Sport, Invisible Daily, Ultra Sheer of Notrg Avino's

J&J (Johnson & Johnson) Corporation, which owns these two brands, said in a statement to the public that: "Although benzene is not one of the components of any of our sun protection products, it is Present in samples of the finished product of a number of protective sprays. Consumers are asked to stop using these products,And get rid of them properly. "

Benzene is not one of the components of the preparations that were found to be contaminated and it is not clear how it got into them. Woman applying sunscreen (Photo: ShutterStock)

The test of the sunscreen was performed by an independent laboratory that took 294 samples from 69 different products for sun protection or skin care after sun exposure, including: sprays, lotions, creams and gels. Of all the samples, the chemical benzene was found in 78. The test shows that the carcinogenic chemical is found in certain batches of the products, and not in all of them.

"Finding benzene in preparations certainly surprised me, as a scientist and as a consumer alike, I regularly use sunscreens myself, and I also have 5 children and we all use sunscreens. That's why it was very worrying to me to discover such high levels of benzene," said David Lite, CEO. the founder of laboratories Valisure carried out the independent review by the preparations.

White adds that some samples showed higher 3.1 times than the allowed level of benzene. Following these findings, Light filed a petition civil Administration food and Drug Administration (FDA) Please perform collecting sweeping from the shelves of all the products in their samples found Benzene in a concentration higher than 0.1 per million.

Reminder: This is not a reason to stop defending yourself from solar radiation - which is carcinogenic in itself.

Sun burning over parasol (Photo: ShutterStock)

Although Johnson & Johnson has tried to reassure the public and claim that exposure to benzene at levels identified in the company's products in an internal inspection should not have serious health consequences, experts believe otherwise.

"There is no such thing as a safe level of benzene in sunscreen products," said Dr. Christopher Bonick, a professor of dermatology at Yale University.

What is benzene?

Benzene is a natural compound found in oil, fuel and cigarette smoke, and is one of the 20 most common ingredients in the production of oils, rubber, paints, detergents, pesticides and more, it is also common in the plastics, nylon and synthetic fibers industry.

At room temperature, it looks like a yellowish liquid with a sweetish aroma.

It is a very flammable material, floating on water and although it is very volatile, it is heavier than air and tends to sink to low places.

The most significant sources of benzene are exhaust gases from burning fuel and coal, gases emitted as a result of vehicle use and pollution from gas stations.

Exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can be fatal, but the effect of the chemical at lower levels through drinking or eating is unknown.

In direct contact with the skin benzene may cause local irritation and redness, in contact with the eyes it will cause burning and in severe cases also damage to the cornea.

How did benzene get to the sunscreen?

It is not clear how the benzene arrived at the protective preparations in which it is being tested.

It is not on the official list of ingredients of any of these preparations, so it is speculated that it got there by mistake at some point in the manufacturing process.

There are several hypotheses, among them that the source of the contamination is in one of the raw materials used to brew the protective preparations, or that a combination of some of these substances creates a chemical reaction that benzene is one of its products (although the latter explanation is less likely).

How do I know if my cream is contaminated?

Since the contamination was inconsistent and apparently caused inadvertently and unconsciously, there is no real way to know which of the containers of the brands found to contain benzene in the test contained the harmful substance and which did not.

Therefore, if you have one of the five preparations listed as problematic, stop using them immediately and get rid of them.

Following the problematic findings, there are now calls in the US for the FDA to require manufacturers of sunscreen products to perform routine tests to verify the health and safety of their products.