![]() ![]() However, J&J claims that “based on exposure modeling and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) framework, daily exposure to benzene in these aerosol sunscreen products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.” Still, the less benzene in our lives, the better. However, benzene is not an ingredient used in any of Johnson & Johnson sunscreen products, so the company is currently investigating how it ended up inside some of their canisters.Īccording to the CDC, adverse health consequences caused by long-term exposure (a year or more) to high levels of benzene include blood disorders like anemia all the way to leukemia. All can sizes and SPF levels of the sprays, which were distributed nationwide, are included in the recall.įun fact from the CDC: Benzene is apparently ubiquitous in the environment, meaning we humans are exposed to it on a daily basis, both indoors via certain glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents, and outdoors, thanks to things like cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and industrial emissions. The recall applies to Aveeno Protect + Refresh, Neutrogena Beach Defense, Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport, Neutrogena Invisible Daily, and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer. J&J issued a voluntary recall of five Aveeno and Neutrogena aerosol sunscreens yesterday, after internal testing identified low levels of benzene, a human carcinogen, in some of the product samples. ![]() Just last month, an independent lab was like, “Hey, we found carcinogens in a bunch of popular sunscreens.” Now, after coming to a similar conclusion, Johnson & Johnson is recommending you throw out several of their popular SPF sprays. Photo-Illustration: by The Cut Photos: Retailers But please don't abandon sunscreen altogether.The Aveeno and Neutrogena sunscreens being recalled by Johnson & Johnson due to traces of benzene. Still, if you have one of the recalled sunscreens, the recall notice says you should stop using it and discard it. But these findings and the recall should not be a cause for panic. So, yes, small exposures over a lifetime can add up to increase your risk for cancer and it's worth finding ways to reduce your exposure to the chemical. Common chemical sunscreen ingredients like avobenzone and oxybenzone are not secretly benzene even though they may sound similar, cosmetics chemist Stephen Alain Ko, explained on Instagram. But, to date, exposure to benzene in personal care products hasn't been linked to actual cancer cases.Īlso, know that the presence of benzene in these sunscreens doesn't have anything to do with whether or not the product is chemical- or mineral-based. There's not as much research about how much benzene is absorbed through the skin, Dr. It's also used in the manufacturing processes for plastics, nylon, and rubber. The truth is that we are all probably getting exposed to small amounts of benzene on a daily basis through inhaling gasoline, car exhaust, or cigarette smoke, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains. ![]() In products like this, benzene is not purposely added but rather a trace contaminant, meaning it's an impurity in another ingredient, cosmetics chemist Michelle Wong, Ph.D., explains on her blog Lab Muffin. But the situation here is more complicated than it seems. ![]() Of course, finding out that a carcinogen has been hanging out in a product you put on your skin is worrying-especially so when that product is something you normally count on for protection. So far only Neutrogena and Aveeno have recalled their products. But the issue of benzene in sunscreens first popped up in late May when Valisure, an independent online pharmacy and testing company, released a report showing the presence of the chemical in 78 batches of products from major brands, including Neutrogena, Banana Boat, CVS Health, Sun Bum, Walgreens, and more. This recall is a direct result of the company's own internal testing. ![]()
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