The sun gives off two kinds of potentially damaging rays. Skin cancer, by contrast, is almost always caused by one thing: excess sun exposure. Many cancers are caused by an opaque confluence of genes, lifestyle and bad luck, making them extremely difficult to avoid. Those stats are especially striking because most skin cancers are preventable. About a fifth of Americans will develop some form of it during their lifetimes, and about 7,000 die from melanoma each year. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. And consumer watchdogs like the Environmental Working Group routinely publish warnings about the potential health risks of sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone recently, many have pointed to a 2020 study that found uncertain evidence it could cause thyroid tumors in rats. The FDA in 2019 requested extra safety data on sunscreen components as part of a more stringent regulatory strategy. In 2018, for example, Hawaii passed a ban on sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, for fear they could damage coral reefs. But it’s hard to blame consumers for asking questions, given persistent concerns about the environmental and health effects of sunscreen. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) maintain that wearing sunscreen is safe, and crucial to reducing the risk of skin cancer. The company stressed that the recall came from an abundance of caution, and that “the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences,” but it still kicked off a fresh flurry of worrisome news stories. But in July, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen sprays due to the presence of benzene. Benzene is not an ingredient in sunscreens, but rather a contaminant likely introduced during the manufacturing process, and experts say it’s not clear whether the amount detected in sunscreens could actually lead to health risks. The recall in the US came two months after online pharmacy Valisure filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), saying it had found levels of benzene that were higher than recommended in more than a dozen products that provided protection or relief against sunburns, including sprays and lotions.This year, the is-sunscreen-dangerous news cycle started in May, when Valisure, an independent laboratory dedicated to quality-testing pharmaceuticals and personal-care products, released a report warning that its scientists found benzene-a carcinogen also found in vehicle emissions and cigarette smoke-in 78 U.S. The sunscreens recalled included four Neutrogena products - Beach Defense, Cool Dry Sport, Invisible Daily Defense and Ultra Sheer - as well as Aveeno's Protect + Refresh. Last month Johnson & Johnson recalled five sunscreen products in the United States after internal testing identified low levels of benzene in some batches. It said the Johnson & Johnson's product testing detected benzene at concentrations less than 3ppm in two of the 17 batches supplied in Australia. The TGA said in Australia solvent medical products, which include sunscreens, must have a concentration of benzene below 2 parts per million (ppm). Exposure to benzene in this sunscreen product at the levels detected would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences," Neutrogena said on its website. "Internal testing identified low levels of benzene in a small number of samples. Neutrogena, which is owned by Johnson & Johnson, said it was recalling the sunscreen "out of an abundance of caution". The TGA said benzene was not an ingredient in the Neutrogena sunscreen, but the chemical was sometimes used in medicine manufacturing processes. It said people who had the sunscreen should discard it and visit the Neutrogena website to request a refund.īenzene is a chemical that is known to cause some cancers. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said consumers should not use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ with an expiry date of August 30, 2023, or earlier. A Neutrogena sunscreen spray is being recalled in Australia after the discovery of the chemical benzene in some batches.
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