Consumer Reports Unveils Results Of FDA Assessment Of Benzene-Contaminated Sunscreens Showing Their Hazard
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousDo you remember the scandal of this summer when in the US some Aveeno and Neutrogena branded sun creams were found to be contaminated with benzene? Johnson & Johnson, which manufactures the products, had withdrawn them as a precaution but declared that they did not pose a threat to health. An FDA assessment actually says otherwise.
We also told you about it: in July, after Johnson & Johnson tests had detected benzene in multiple samples, several batches of Aveeno and Neutrogena sunscreens were withdrawn from the market. Read also: Sunscreens, carcinogenic chemical found: Johnson & Johnson withdraws Neutrogena and Aveeno in the USA
To return to the question is Consumer Reports which reveals how, despite Johnson & Johnson wanted to minimize the thing, in a document the FDA actually considered these benzene-contaminated products dangerous.
Remember that short-term exposure to benzene can cause dizziness and headaches, while long-term exposure can cause some cancers and blood diseases.
It is still unclear why benzene was found in the products. At the time of the recall, Johnson & Johnson said it was investigating the matter but no new information was recently given. Since then, among other things, several other products have been reported for the same reason.
But returning to the recalls of July, at the time J&J had stated:
Daily exposure to benzene in these spray sunscreen products at the levels found in our tests should not cause adverse health consequences. For an abundance of caution, we are recalling all batches of these specific spray sunscreen products.
Ma an internal report from the FDA, completed prior to the announcement and obtained by Consumer Reports through the Freedom of Information Act, appears to have come to a different conclusion.
The report, called Health Hazard Evaluation, says Johnson & Johnson's tests found benzene levels 5 to 12 times higher than the recommended limits set by independent organizations. At that high level, the internal FDA report stated that "serious adverse effects were likely to occur“, Including the potential for life-threatening problems or“ permanent impairment of bodily function ”.
@Consumer Report
The Johnson & Johnson incident, according to Consumer Reports, illustrates the limitations of the FDA's approach to the problem of contaminated products.
To build credibility and support its mission of promoting public health, the agency should no longer publish corporate press releases. It should make all their assessments public and announce specific actions to ensure that other products are not contaminated in the same way with benzene or other chemicals such as PFAS - said Andrews of EWG.
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Fonte: Consumer Reports
Read also:
- Spray deodorants with carcinogenic benzene: Procter & Gamble's new maxi call in the USA
- Carcinogenic benzene found in some spray deodorants, the list compiled by the US laboratory
- Johnson & Johnson forced to withdraw this Neutrogenic sunscreen due to the presence of benzene, a carcinogen
- Do we need to worry about the benzene found in these pharmacy sunscreens (list)?
