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Johnson & Johnson recalls five of its aerosols Solar cream products after sprays were found to contain low levels of the chemical benzene, a known human carcinogen.
The company made the announcement this week after performing its own internal testing. According to a company statement. The recall applies to all sizes and FPS of these products, according to the Washington Post.
The recall comes months after independent testing lab Valisure found benzene in 78 sunscreen products, including Neutrogena and Aveeno, Previously reported live science. Around that time, Valisure asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to recall all 78 products and the agency to conduct its own investigation into the manufacture of those products.
According to the Post, Johnson & Johnson began investigating its products for benzene after seeing the Valisure report.
Benzene is a colorless or light yellow liquid that forms naturally but is also produced by human activities, depending on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For example, automobile emissions and the combustion of coal and petroleum can release benzene into the air.
Exposure to high levels of benzene causes cancer in humans, especially cancer of the blood, including leukemia. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration limits exposure to benzene in air in the workplace to 1 part per million (ppm) on average per day and to a maximum of 5 ppm over a period 15 minutes, depending on American Cancer Society. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits benzene in drinking water to 0.005 ppm, or 5 parts per billion (ppb), which is also the limit for bottled water.
Johnson & Johnson did not disclose the levels of benzene found in its products, but stated that, based on EPA guidelines, “daily exposure to benzene in these aerosolized sunscreen products at levels detected in our tests should not have adverse health consequences. ” Still, the company made the voluntary recall “out of excess of caution,” the statement said.
The company is investigating how benzene ended up in products because the chemical is not intentionally added as an ingredient. Consumers should stop using and dispose of the recalled products, and use a different sunscreen for producing sun, the statement said.
the The Environmental Working Group (EWR) recommends that people avoid aerosol sunscreens altogether, as aerosol sunscreens may not provide adequate sun protection and could pose a chemical inhalation hazard. Instead, EWG recommends people use sunscreen lotions.
Originally posted on Live Science.
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