Everything you need to know about Benzene in sunscreen
Benzene and Sunscreens—What You Need to Know
You may have seen headlines linking sunscreens to cancer. We’ve seen them too, and have thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the scientific findings behind them.
What Is Benzene?
Benzene is an organic solvent used for oil extraction from seeds and nuts, used for manufacturing pharmaceuticals, and found in the air from coal, oil, and gasoline emissions or from burning wood or a wax candle. Benzene is highly volatile, meaning that most of it would evaporate very quickly from the surface of the skin after sunscreen is applied. It is unknown if any of the benzene found in certain sunscreens is even absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.
How Dangerous Is Benzene in Sunscreen?
For now, we can’t be sure. The FDA classifies benzene as a Class 1 solvent, meaning it should be avoided in the manufacturing of drugs and drug products unless absolutely necessary. There isn’t any measure of how much benzene is safe to include in sun-care products, though; the FDA established a temporary 2 ppm limit on hand sanitizers during the pandemic, but there is no analogue for SPF.
Benzene Exposure and Symptoms
Benzene exposure can occur in several ways. These include:
- Inhalation
- Ingestion
- Eye contact
- Absorption through the skin
For now, we can’t be sure. The FDA classifies benzene as a Class 1 solvent, meaning it should be avoided in the manufacturing of drugs and drug products unless absolutely necessary. There isn’t any measure of how much benzene is safe to include in sun-care products, though; the FDA established a temporary 2 ppm limit on hand sanitizers during the pandemic, but there is no analogue for SPF.
- Increased heart rate
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Tremors
- Convulsions
When benzene exposure occurs, even in small doses, it can also cause numerous kinds of cancer. Research has found that the link between benzene and certain types of cancer is strong. Especially for leukemia, the link to benzene is significant.
Some types of cancer caused by benzene include:
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
People who use sunscreen with benzene can develop these types of cancer. So too can workers who make the sunscreen and after-sun care products. These workers are exposed for long periods to benzene and can develop cancer through their work.
So what sunscreens are safe?
Benzene is not an ingredient in sunscreens. The fact that the Valisure tests found trace amounts of benzene present in certain batches of sunscreen is because it is likely a contaminant. Manufacturing mechanisms are likely in place to avoid this contaminant in the future. The bottom line is that the health risks of trace levels of contaminants in sunscreens like benzene are unknown and likely very low, while the risk of skin cancer due to prolonged and/or intense sun exposure without protection from sunscreen is well studied and quite high. Not only are sunscreens considered very safe, but they are an important part of protecting yourself from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun.
Concussion
Considering benzene’s link to cancer, it’s still probably best to avoid it whenever possible. Valisure contends that benzene should not be allowed in any SPF products, and part of their petition asks the FDA to establish a concentration limit for products like sunscreens, on top of a daily exposure limit.