I am writing this blog because overnight, the number of queries regarding “benzene”, “oxybenzone” and “neutrogena” have shot through the roof on my blog.
J&J’s product recall
These searches are likely driven by Johnson & Johnson’s voluntary decision to recall some of Neutrogena and Aveeno’s sunscreen products after detecting benzene. It is important that you appreciate that the only sunscreen products impacted are aerosol products, specifically:
- NEUTROGENA® Beach Defense® aerosol sunscreen,
- NEUTROGENA® Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen,
- NEUTROGENA® Invisible Daily™ defense aerosol sunscreen,
- NEUTROGENA® Ultra Sheer® aerosol sunscreen, and
- AVEENO® Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen.
A link to Johnson & Johnson’s full statement is attached here
Oxybenzone is not the same as Benzene
Oxybenzone is a sunscreen filter that absorbs UV radiation and is permitted for use in American sunscreens. It is not benzene. This is a link to the US FDA’s comprehensive thinking on all Sunscreen Drug Products sold in the USA.
Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon and from your high-school chemistry you’ll recall it has this structure:
Does benzene cause cancer?
I am not qualified to answer that question. But in the USA, the National Toxicology Program, which is part of the US Department of Health, publishes frequently a report on carcinogens.
The last report was published in 2016 and it includes 248 “agents, substances, mixtures, and exposure circumstances that are known or reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans.”
The full list published by the NTP is available here.
Benzene is listed as a Known To Be Human Carcinogen.
If in doubt, look-up the sunscreen on Neutrogena’s website…
Products that have been recalled are marked as such
