Moms, dads, and retirees know the importance of frequently applying sun screen while on the beach.
In a stunning development published yesterday by Gizmodo, a testing lab company called Valisure is sounding the alarm over the carcinogen related chemical benzene that it has detected in common sun care products.
The lab is now requesting that the FDA issue a recall of these products and conduct their own investigation into the possible contamination.
Out of nearly 300 brands sold by 69 companies, the lab found benzene in 78 products, sometimes in much higher concentrations than conditionally allowed by the FDA.
“The presence of this known human carcinogen in sunscreen products widely recommended for the prevention of skin cancer and regularly used by adults and children in large volumes makes this finding especially troubling,” the company wrote in its citizen petition to the FDA, dated May 24 (the petition also contains the list of potentially contaminated products).
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR NOW?
Check the ingredients on any sunscreen product you buy. If one of the listed ingredients is benzene, dispose of the product. Do not use it under any circumstances.
Huge Summer Beach Traffic
Estimates are that over 12 million people will visit the Grand Strand Summer 2021. Most all of these tourists and locals will choose to apply sunscreen while on the beach.
If you are unsure, ask your local pharmacist if the sunscreen product you are purchasing does, in fact, contain benzene.
A LIST OF THE CONTAMINATED BRANDS HERE
Valisure Citizen Petition on Benzene in Sunscreen and After Sun Care Products v9.7 by MyrtleBeachSC news on Scribd