Is it time to worry about benzene?

Benzene can be found in everything from hand sanitizers to dry shampoo, but research is ongoing to determine the carcinogen's effect on humans.

The chemical is found naturally in crude oil and used to manufacture chemicals such as dyes, detergents, paints and plastics. It can end up in personal care products when the chemicals in them aren’t purified enough, or when certain active ingredients in products react with each other or break down.

There is no hard data yet that suggests low levels of benzene exposure from personal care products carries significant health risks. Many of the online and scientific discussion around benzene's presence in personal care products comes from drug testing company Valisure, which reported finding benzene contamination in hand sanitizers, body sprays, sunscreens, dry shampoos and acne medications containing benzoyl peroxide. 

Some experts have questioned Valisure's methodology, including a testing protocol that involves heating products beyond temperatures that would ever happen in regular life. This could accelerate the breakdown of ingredients and suggest a higher risk of benzene exposure than consumers would actually face.

Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist and adjunct instructor in UC's Cosmetic Science Program in the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, told the New York Times companies often test products at slightly elevated temperatures to simulate the ingredient's breaking down and help set expiration dates. But heating products to higher than recommended temperatures may be providing faulty results.

While the research continues, Dobos and other experts said it is not recommended to stop using sunscreen out of fear of benzene exposure. If you want to continue to use benzoyl peroxide products, like acne creams, Dobos said to store them in a cool, dark place like a cabinet or fridge to help the ingredients remain stable for longer. 

Read the New York Times article.

Featured photo at top of benzene's chemical makeup. Photo/designer491/iStock.