Recent report claims traces of benzene found in 78 sunscreens
A recent report calls on the Food and Drug Administration to recall certain
sunscreens after a cancer-causing chemical was found in them.
Valisure tested nearly 300 sunscreens and discovered that
78 of them contain a chemical called benzene.
"Benzene is known to harm the bone marrow and long exposure can lead
to blood cancer, such as leukemia," Dr. Michael Kasper said.
Recent report claims traces of benzene found in 78 sunscreens
Dr. Michael Kasper, with the Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Medical
Center, suggests some sunscreen alternatives after a report found a cancer-causing
chemical in 78 sunscreens.
"Benzene is known to harm the bone marrow and long exposure can lead
to blood cancer, such as leukemia," Dr. Michael Kasper said.
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Kasper, who specializes in radiation oncology with the Lynn Cancer Institute
at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, said it's not clear how or why the
benzene is there, but it is alarming.
Miranda Christian/WPTV
"To put it in context, benzene is found in cigarette smoke,"
Dr. Michael Kasper,
with the Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, says.
"To put it in context, benzene is found in cigarette smoke," he said.
Kasper said anyone worried about applying sunscreen should try to avoid
the chemical-based ones that are easily absorbed into the skin. Instead,
he said, find mineral sunscreen.
"Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin," Kasper said. "They
don't get absorbed."
Valisure has sent its report to the FDA to investigate and recall the sunscreens
found with benzene.
Topping the list of 78 sunscreens were name brands like Neutrogena, CVS
and Banana Boat.
Twenty different Neutrogena sunscreens had traces of benzene. The company
told WPTV in a statement that it doesn't use benzene in its products
and is investigating the claims.
Fourteen sunscreens from CVS also had traces of benzene. CVS said it is
working to ensure its products are safe.
Nine sunscreens from Banana Boat were found to have benzene in them. The
company could not be reached for comment.
Sandy Chasan, who is co-owner of Jamie's Convenience Store in Delray
Beach, said sunscreen is hard to keep on the shelf there being so close
to the beach.
"We sell out almost every single day," she said.
Chasan said it's a necessity in the Florida sunshine.
"People come in and they're like, 'I can't believe I came
to Florida without my sunscreen,'" she said.
That's why she hopes the FDA and sunscreen companies take whatever
actions are necessary to make sunscreen safe.
"Of course, we want the quality of our sunscreen we sell (to be) high
quality, you know, that's healthy for the people, healthy for the
environment," she said.