This article was originally published by B.N. Frank at Activist Post.
Last month, Environmental Working Group published a list of sunscreens that are safe to use. Many popular brands, including some from Johnson & Johnson, weren’t on it. Now J&J is recalling 5 of its products.
From Yahoo:
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Select Neutrogena and Aveeno Sunscreens Due to Benzene Levels
Johnson & Johnson is recalling five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreen products due to low levels of benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer with repeated exposure.
On Wednesday, the company issued a statement announcing a voluntary recall and urged consumers to discard the products if they had already purchased them. The Neutrogena aerosol sunscreens that have been recalled are the Beach Defense, Cool Dry Sport Invisible Daily and Ultra Sheer varieties, in addition to Aveeno’s Protect + Refresh spray sunscreen.
Consumers can receive a refund by calling Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Care Center at at 1-800-458-1673.
“While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our sunscreen products, it was detected in some samples of the impacted aerosol sunscreen finished products,” the pharmaceutical giant said of internal testing. “We are investigating the cause of this issue, which is limited to certain aerosol sunscreen products.”
A human carcinogen, benzene can potentially cause cancer depending on the level and extent of exposure.
Johnson & Johnson is not having a good summer. Last month, the company settled its opioid lawsuit with the state of New York and announced it was leaving the opioid business. More recently the CDC issued a warning about a health risk associated with the company’s COVID vaccine.
Wonder what the levels were, “low levels” isn’t very specific, and how it made it into the product.
“NEW HAVEN, CT – MAY 25, 2021 – Valisure LLC has tested and detected high levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen, in several brands and batches of sunscreen, which are considered drug products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as in after-sun care products, which are generally regulated by FDA as cosmetics. Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, and other regulatory agencies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines benzene as a carcinogen and lists “inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact” as exposure routes. 27% of samples tested by Valisure contained detectable benzene and some batches contained up to three times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million (ppm).”
https://www.valisure.com/blog/valisure-news/valisure-detects-benzene-in-sunscreen/
So anywhere between 2 to 6 PPM Benzine. My guess is it’s from the raw materials sourced from the lowest bidder.
Knowing the history
of j&j a possible
future headline
might be:
JOHNSON &
JOHNSON SAYS
THEIR
SUNSCREENS
WILL BE BACK
ON MARKET AS
SOON AS THEY
HAVE INCREASED
THE LEVEL OF
CANCER-CAUSING
INGREDIENT ??
I have never put sunscreen on my body, living in Florida and the South for 60 years. Most of that time I was on the water getting a double dose of sun from reflection from the ocean surface. I was brown as a biscuit and could sit in hot sun all day out on an open boat, wearing only shorts and tank top. Now I’m 80 and have none of the “sun damage” Dermatologists are always screaming about. Also,Sunscreen chemicals are killing our natural coral reefs in South Florida but no one cares as long as they are making money from lies about sunburn.
Well said George C.
I also have spent many hours baking in the sun unprotected and I am still okay – go figure.
The entire “sunscreen protection from the sun”
is just another (like so
many others) medical money making racket from the big pharma and the medical mafia.
Sunscreen is what gives everyone skin cancer and it always has been. Every time my boyfriend and I go to the beach I refuse to use sunscreen because I know it causes cancer and my boyfriend would laugh at me… he wasn’t laughing as much when I showed him the news articles about Johnson & Johnson sunscreens causing cancer
That really depends on a lot of factors, genetics, and how gradually you tan…and IMHO the ozone layer where you are at ( time an place dependent).
I got sunburnt really bad in 1985 at the Miami Zoo, but I was wearing a t-Shit and jams…but at least we got to ride on the elephants for the high sum of 5 bucks a kid as Grandpa was paying ( sadly that is not offered any more).
In 1989-90 I lived in Greece for one year…got really tanned no issues, and my hair got darker and more curly… but just about anywhere else I would burn, due to the current atmospheric pollution today I am not sure what would happen if I was even able to travel to Greece now…
Those of us over 40 know the sky and clouds are simply not the same…
In the olden days, sunshine used to be considered a cure for skin cancer.
Jean Nicot (as in nicotine) marketed tobacco as a cancer cure.
Reminds me of that old Propaganda song from the early 1990’s “But trust me on the Sunscreen”
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
“Tip: Sunscreen Should be your Last resort”
That about sums it up.
I am a light skinned Hebrew who burns very easy. Simple solution MODESTY, cover guys and gals, wear a wide brim hat…there is a reason even dark skinned Humans cover up in the deserts, and have for thousands of years. (Brief periods of exposure for vitamin D production excluded.)
I also find full shirts help protect against Mosquitos and other biting bugs worked great in VA and in North FL…though in FL you may need a head net for the chiggers!