Great concern has been caused by the findings of an independent laboratory in the USA according to which high amounts of the carcinogenic benzene were detected in products of major cosmetic and care companies.
According to Reuters, high levels of benzene (a cancer-causing chemical) were detected in some acne treatments from brands including Clinique, Estee Lauder, Target Up & Up and Reckitt Benckiser-owned Clearasil.
Independent lab Valisure has filed a petition with the US Food and Drug Administration, calling on the regulator to recall the products, conduct an investigation and revise the cosmetics industry’s guidelines, the New Haven, Connecticut-based lab said.
Estee Lauder shares fell 2% following the news broke. Benzene was also detected in acne soaps such as Proactiv, PanOxyl, Walgreens and Walmart’s Equate Beauty acne cream.
As the lab noted, benzene might rise to unacceptable levels in both prescription and over-the-counter acne treatment products.
Reckitt said the findings “reflect unrealistic scenarios and not real-world conditions”, adding that all Clearasil products were safe “when used and stored as directed on their labels”.
Estee Lauder announced that Clinique uses benzene peroxide in a product, which “is safe for use as intended.” Giants such as Target and Walmart declined to comment, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to respond to Valisure’s report that made the revelations.
The carcinogen has already been found in many consumer products, including sunscreen, hand sanitizer and dry shampoo, leading to recalls of products made by companies such as Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson.
But the detection of benzene in acne treatment products was something new compared to the other cases.
“The benzene we found in sunscreens and other consumer products were impurities that came from contaminated ingredients. However, the benzene in benzene peroxide products comes from benzene peroxide itself,” said Valisure co-founder and president David Light. Valisure’s tests showed that some products might have a concentration of benzene 800 times higher than the FDA’s allowable limit.
Source: newsit.gr
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