Sunscreen Recalled For Cancer-Causing Chemical

Banana Boat’s Hair and Scalp sunscreen are being recalled after tests detected trace levels of the carcinogen benzene, Edgewell Personal Care Company said Friday.

“While benzene is not an ingredient in any Banana Boat products, the review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can,” the release says.

“Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it potentially can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life threatening. To date, Edgewell has not received any adverse events related to this recall. Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment. Humans around the world have daily exposures to it indoors and outdoors from multiple sources. Daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences according to an independent health assessment using established exposure modeling guidelines.”

The FDA assured that the levels found in the defective sunscreen “would not be expected to cause adverse heath consequences.”

The FDA recommends that buyers of Banana Boat’s Hair and Scalp sunscreen should “stop using the affected product immediately and appropriately discard.”

Full Details from FDA here