On Wednesday, however, Johnson & Johnson recalled five aerosol sunscreens that contained traces of benzene, a carcinogen banned as an ingredient in household products.

“Although benzene is not found in any of our sunscreen products, it has been found in some samples of the affected finished aerosol sunscreen products. We are investigating the root cause of this problem, which is limited to certain aerosol sunscreen products,” Jonhson & Johnson said in a press release.

Benzene has been found in the following sunscreens:

• Neutrogena Beach Defense Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Aerosol Sunscreen
• Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sun protection

Benzene is used in fuels, in the extraction of oils from seeds and nuts, and in the manufacture of detergents. It can also happen naturally. Small amounts of benzene are also found in our drinking water, air we breathe and in soft drinks, making it impossible to avoid completely. Regarding the recent sunscreen product recall, Johnson & Johnson says the amounts of benzene found in their products weren’t high enough to cause harm.

“Based on exposure modeling and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) framework, daily exposure to benzene in these aerosol sunscreen products at the levels determined in our tests is expected to have no adverse health effects,” says Johnson & Johnson . “As a precaution, we are recalling all lots of these special aerosol sunscreen products.”

The benzene found in sunscreens is not intentionally added but can appear as a trace contaminant from an ingredient contamination or a reaction that occurs during manufacture, explains Michelle Wong, PhD, chemist and science educator.

“Now don’t get me wrong – benzene is harmful and there is no benefit, so we should reduce our exposure to benzene, and it’s definitely a good thing that regulators have been working to reduce exposure,” says Wong in their Blog. Laboratory muffin. “But like any other harmful or dangerous thing, the risk depends on exposure. The harm depends on how much of it you get and how you’re exposed to it.” She says no one who has used benzene sunscreen should worry.

However, if this recall scared you a little, then if you haven’t had it this year, you can get a skin cancer check-up with your dermatologist. Additionally, you can turn to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens as they are the only two of the 16 FDA approved sunscreens that are well enough researched to earn GRASE status (generally recognized as safe and effective).

Learn more about the best sunscreens for people of color:

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