REUTERS reported yesterday (3/6/2024) that high levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene were detected in some acne treatments, including Estee Lauder’s Clinique, Target’s Up & Up and Reckitt Benckiser-owned Clearasil, according to Valisure, an independent U.S. laboratory based in New Haven, Connecticut.
Valisure has filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) requesting that the FDA issues recalls on the products, conducts an investigation, and revises industry guidance.
Although benzene contamination has been previously detected in other consumer products (e.g., sunscreen, hand sanitizer) due to contaminated ingredients, Valisure President David Light said that in the tested acne treatment products “the benzene in benzoyl peroxide products is coming from the benzoyl peroxide itself.”
The REUTERS article may be read HERE.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) website includes fact sheets about benzene, which may be viewed HERE and HERE.
Benzene is categorized as a volatile organic compound (or “VOC”). When industry has to dispose of benzene that is not being recycled or otherwise lawfully reused, it is managed as a hazardous waste under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”). RCRA has strict requirements for the containerization, labeling, storage, manifesting, transport and disposal of hazardous waste, including benzene or certain benzene-contaminated wastes.
In part, the CDC states that natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires, and that benzene is also a natural constituent of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke. It ranks within the top 20 chemicals for production volume, with some industries using benzene to make other chemicals, which are, in turn, used to make plastics, resins, nylon or synthetic fibers, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming organs.
This writer, as a retired State of New Mexico environmental regulator and enforcement manager, has come to believe that most things in our day-to-day lives as Americans are unnecessarily regulated or over-regulated; however, when it comes to the basics of food safety, clean water, clean air and oversight regarding cancer-causing industrial chemicals, some regulation is a very good idea.
Let’s hope and pray that the FDA acts quickly to determine if the Valisure’s laboratory findings are accurate and that it quickly takes all necessary action.
Proverbs 10:2 (Amplified Bible)
“Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit, [b]ut righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.”
Romans 13:1-3 (NKJV)
Submit to Government
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!