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What's the Problem with Benzene Exposure?

Tests conducted by Valisure LLC laboratory have detected high levels of benzene in aerosol sunscreen and after-sun products sold in the United States.

Valisure reported that 27% of the samples it tested contained detectable levels of benzene in aerosol sunscreen recall products, and the samples contained nearly three times the concentration limit set by the Food and Drug Administration of 2 parts per million.

Fourteen product batches with the highest contamination levels were sold across four different sunscreen recall brands including Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunscreen, Neutrogena Beach Defense, Sun Bum, CVS Health, and Fruit of the Earth.

Benzene, the toxic chemical detected in these sunscreen recall products, is also found in cigarette smoke, gasoline, and paint thinners. Benzene is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance).

Which Aerosol Sunscreens Have Been Recalled?

The FDA on July 14, 2021, issued a nationwide recall [1] for the following Neutrogena sunscreen and Aveeno Protect Refresh Aerosol Sunscreen products for potential contamination with a cancer-causing chemical:

• NEUTROGENA® Beach Defense® sunscreen
• NEUTROGENA® Cool Dry Sport sunscreen
• NEUTROGENA® Invisible Daily™ defense sunscreen
• NEUTROGENA® Ultra Sheer® sunscreen
• AVEENO® Protect Refresh aerosol

"Internal testing identified low levels of benzene in some samples of the products," FDA said. "While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our aerosol sunscreen products, it was detected in some samples of the impacted aerosol sunscreen finished products. We are investigating the cause of this sunscreen recall, which is limited to certain aerosol sunscreen and after sun care products."

The sunscreen recall products are packaged in aerosol cans and was distributed nationwide through a variety of retail channels.

If you purchased any Neutrogena sunscreen or Aveeno sunscreen products that are affected by this recall, you should stop using them immediately and contact JJCI Consumer Care Center with questions or to request a refund.

NEUTROGENA Beach Defense Aerosol Sunscreen

NEUTROGENA Cool Dry Sport Aerosol Sunscreen

NEUTROGENA Invisible Daily Defense Aerosol Sunscreen

NEUTROGENA Ultra Sheer Weightless

AVEENO® Protect + Refresh Aerosol Sunscreen

Benzene Sunscreen Side Effects

• Skin cancer
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Blood cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Other blood cancers
• Other cancers
• And more

How Can Sunscreen Give You Cancer?

Sunscreen that contains benzene could cause cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although no specific studies have been performed on benzene sunscreens and cancer, samples of popular sunscreen brands tested by Valisure detected the presence of benzene.

When sunscreen containing benzene is applied to the skin, the body absorbs it and the chemical enters the bloodstream, where it can cause cancer.

Skin Cancer (Melanoma)

Melanoma — the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight.

There are 3 major types of this kind of cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Melanoma develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. However, it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day — your palms, beneath your fingernails or toenails, and your genital area.

Melanoma affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. When melanoma occurs in people with dark skin tones, it's more likely to occur in areas not normally exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

CLL is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease progresses slowly, usually affecting older adults.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia may not cause any symptoms for years. When symptoms do occur, they may include swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and easy bruising.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

ALL is the most common childhood cancer. It occurs when a bone marrow cell develops errors in its DNA.

Symptoms may include enlarged lymph nodes, bruising, fever, bone pain, bleeding from the gums, and frequent infections.

The word "acute" comes from the fact that the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones. The word "lymphocytic" in acute lymphocytic leukemia refers to the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which ALL affect.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

AML starts in the bone marrow but most often it quickly moves into the blood. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles.

Most often, AML develops from cells that would turn into white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), but sometimes AML develops in other types of blood-forming cells.

Acute myeloid leukemia has many other names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system.

When B cells respond to an infection, they mature and change into plasma cells. Plasma cells make the antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) that help the body attack and kill germs. Plasma cells are found mainly in the bone marrow.

When plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, this is called myeloma. The plasma cells make an abnormal protein (antibody) known by several different names, including monoclonal immunoglobulin, monoclonal protein (M-protein), M-spike, or paraprotein.

What is Sunscreen Used For?

Sunscreen helps shield the skin from harm caused by exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Exposure to the sun is one of the leading causes of skin cancer. One in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. Sunscreens have been reported to contain benzene.

Which Sunscreens Have No Benzene?

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:

• Equate Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF
• Neutrogena sunscreens
• Up & Up
• Supergoop!
• Banana Boat
• Revlon
• Sun Bum
• Hawaiian Tropic
• Max Block
• Aveeno

Note: many of the brands with sunscreen products on this list also make sunscreens that tested positive for benzene.

Does Oxybenzone Cause Cancer?

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 World Health Organization calls oxybenzone “the most worrisome sunscreen active ingredient.” It’s been shown to cause allergic skin reactions, behave like an endocrine disruptor (i.e. interferes 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.

What is Benzene?

Benzene is a light yellow liquid chemical compound that occurs naturally in the environment which can also be manufactured synthetically for industrial and household products. This sweet smelling chemical compound is colorless or slightly tinged yellow in its liquid form and is extremely flammable.

Liquid benzene evaporates rapidly into the air, but dissolves only slightly when introduced to water. In fact, when benzene is placed in water most of the chemical remains floating on the surface of the water.

Considered an aromatic hydrocarbon, benzene is a known human carcinogen and benzene exposure has been found to cause a wide variety of adverse side effects and complications in individuals that have been exposed to benzene in high concentrations or for long periods of time.

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Am I Eligible to File a Claim?

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.

The law offices of Schmidt & Clark, LLP, are accepting Neutrogena sunscreen lawsuits in all 50 U.S. states. Many sunscreen brands are owned by large multinational companies such as Johnson Sunscreen Products 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 through the filing of a federal Sunscreen Lawsuit.

Did you use a sunscreen that, unbeknownst to you or your doctor, contains benzene? Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Our sunscreen cancer lawyers are ready to review your potential benzene sunscreen lawsuit and let you know how we can help.

Get a Free Sunscreen Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in Sunscreen Cancer Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.

If you or a loved one was injured by benzene exposure, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.