Written by: Jasmine Biju
Today, sunscreens line the aisles of drug, convenience, and grocery stores, providing a diverse selection of sun protection methods. But, it is this versatility that proposes a problem: it makes it difficult to know which product accomplishes its purpose but is also safe and harmless to the body. To tackle this confusion, it is important to be familiar with the ingredients of the sunscreen product you are considering using. Rumors and misinformation have percolated in the media, bringing attention to the possible carcinogenic risk of some unintentional sunscreen ingredients, like benzene. However, the consensus is that the potential risk for cancer without using sunscreen drastically exceeds that of any risk that sunscreen does possess.
Sunblock is a topical product that acts as a defense mechanism against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. The most essential element of sunscreen is its active ingredients, which help to filter out harmful UV light. Active ingredients make up approximately 20% of a sunscreen’s content. Ultraviolet light exists in three forms: UVA, UVB, and UVC light. UVA and UVB light are most prominent on the Earth’s surface, as UVC light is filtered by the ozone layer and atmosphere. Sunscreens often have a combination of filters to ensure they are protecting against both UVA and UVB light. These active ingredients achieve this by reflecting and absorbing light rays.
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sixteen sunscreen active ingredients. The most popular filters include avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octinoxate, oxybenzone, octocrylene, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. The FDA classifies sunscreen as a drug, which subjects it to thorough safety screenings. In addition to these sun filters, other ingredients, such as stabilizers, sensory enhancers, and added extras are incorporated in sunscreen formulation. Generally, these components improve the user’s experience when using the product.
Sunscreen is essential for skin health in order to prevent the development of skin cancers, such as the deadly melanoma. It has been deemed an efficacious method in protecting against harmful solar radiation, and thus is imperative to make use of such a product in daily life. Although this is factual, it is important to be aware of the quality of the sunscreen that is being used. Back in July 2021, benzene contamination in a sunscreen production facility resulted in the recall of many sunscreen products, as benzene has been identified as a carcinogen in laboratory testing. Benzene is a colorless organic chemical compound used in many materials, such as plastics, detergents, and pesticides. It can additionally be found in traces of smoke from combustive materials: burning wood, cigarette smoke, and gas furnace emissions. Numerous studies have reported the causation of acute leukemia in direct association with exposure to benzene. The harmful effects of benzene are felt more greatly by individuals with constant exposure to the gas, such as drivers, maintenance workers, and personnel involved with manufacturing, gas, and oil. The FDA has stated that benzene should not be used in drugs like sunscreen for these reasons. The only named exception is if the product is of “significant therapeutic advance,” in which benzene can exist up to 2 parts per million, where the risk factor is low. Though the FDA helps to regulate safe sunscreens being sold to consumers, benzene contamination is still a risk of sunscreen products. However, this is not due to the formulation or filters itself, but rather problems with manufacturing.
Though benzene is deemed a definitive carcinogenic substance, the quantity that has been found in contaminated sunscreen does not seem to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Additionally, existing studies focus more on the link between benzene inhalation as opposed to topical exposure. However, the current data may suggest that contaminated sunscreen sprays may be correlated to a higher risk factor for cancer due to inhalation
While the possibility of benzene contamination may raise acceptable concerns, it is important to recognize the augmented risk of cancer without the usage of sunscreen. Solar radiation proposes more profound implications in comparison to the possibility of carcinogenic chemicals in a sample of sunscreens. Again, the problem roots from contamination issues during the manufacturing process of the products, which is still being investigated. Though benzene is cancerous, the effects of being exposed to it on a topical level are deemed to be minimal with our current understanding. Ultimately, it is important to stay educated on what you use on your body and protect your skin against harmful UV radiation to prevent skin cancer
References:
“Benzene and Sunscreen Recalls: What To Know – Cleveland Clinic.” Cleveland Clinic HealthEssentials, 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benzene-in-sunscreen/.
Boerner, L. “What’s in sunscreen, and how does it protect your skin from the sun’s rays?” Chemical and Engineering News, 2021, https://cen.acs.org/business/consumer-products/What-in-sunscreen-and-how-does-it-protect-your-skin-fro m-the-sun-rays/99/i27
James, K. “Benzene contamination in sunscreen: Not Worth Getting Burned.” National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, 2022, https://ncceh.ca/content/blog/benzene-contamination-sunscreen-not-worth-getting-burned#:~:text=Recently%2C%20independent%20laboratory%20testing%20of,of%20benzene%2C%20a%20human%20carcino gen.
Macmillan, Carries. “Is my sunscreen safe?” Yale Medicine, 2022,
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-sunscreen-safe
Laird, P. “Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Sunscreens? Here’s What You Need To Know.” Baptist Health, 2021, https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/cancer-causing-chemicals-in-sunscreens-what-you-need-to-k now
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