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Independent testing has detected benzene – a known carcinogen — in popular sunscreen and sun-care products sold by Johnson & Johnson, CVS, and others. You may be eligible to file a Sunscreen Lawsuit if you or a loved one used any of the affected brands and were later diagnosed with cancer or other benzene-related complications.

Contact Our Sunscreen Cancer Lawyers

The defective product lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are offering free legal consultations to anyone who developed cancer or other ailments potentially linked to benzene in the following sunscreen and sun-care products:

• Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Weightless, SPF 100+
• Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Weightless, SPF 70
• Sun Bum Cool Down Gel
• Neutrogena Beach Defense Oil-Free Body Spray, SPF 100
• CVS Health After-Sun Aloe Vera Soothing Spray
• Neutrogena Beach Defense Body Spray, SPF 50
• Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Body Sunscreen Broad Spectrum, SPF 60+
• Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel
• Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport
• Aveeno Protect + Refresh

To learn more about filing a Sunscreen Lawsuit, please fill out our online form or call (888) 994-5118 to connect with one of our attorneys today.

Sunscreen and Benzene: What’s the Problem?

On May 25, 2021, the online pharmacy Valisure announced that its independent testing program had detected benzene in certain sunscreen and sun-care products, including popular Aveeno and Neutrogena brand sunscreens marketed by Johnson & Johnson.

“Benzene is one of the most studied and concerning human carcinogens known to science. Its association with forming blood cancers in humans has been shown in numerous studies at trace levels of parts per million and below,” said David Light, Founder and CEO of Valisure. “The presence of this known human carcinogen in products widely recommended for the prevention of skin cancer and that are regularly used by adults and children is very troubling.

According to the company, 27% of the sunscreen samples it tested contained detectable levels of benzene, and several contained almost three times the concentration limit set by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) of 2 parts per million.

More than a month later, on July 14^th, Johnson & Johnson announced it was recalling the following Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreens after internal testing detecting “low levels” of benzene in those products:

• 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 sunscreen

A day after Johnson & Johnson announced its sunscreen recall,  CVS said it would end sales of two store-brand sun-care products — CVS Health After Sun Aloe Vera and CVS After Sun Aloe Vera Spray – that had also tested positive for the presence of benzene.

Health Consequences of Benzene Exposure

Both Johnson & Johnson and CVS maintain that the levels of benzene detected in their products were too low to pose a health risk and insisted their actions merely reflected an “abundance of caution.” But benzene exposure has long been associated with cancer and other serious health consequences, including:

• Neurological symptoms
• Anemia
• Excessive bleeding
• Immune System Damage
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
• Multiple myeloma
• Aplastic anemia
• Lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Other blood cancers

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Health Organization classify benzene as carcinogenic. Research also suggests there is no safe level of benzene exposure. And because benzene is strongly associated with leukemia and other blood cancers, absorption through the skin is of particular concern, as multiple studies have shown that chemicals in sunscreen products are present in the blood at high levels after application to the skin.

The FDA currently designates benzene as a “class 1” solvent that should not be used in drug production due to its high toxicity levels. However, the 2ppm concentration limit only applies in special circumstances, which do not include sunscreen manufacturing.

As a result of its recent sunscreen findings, Valisure has called on the FDA to establish more stringent limits for benzene in drugs and cosmetics.

Do You Qualify to File a Sunscreen Cancer Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer after using sunscreen or sun-care products potentially contaminated with benzene, taking legal action against the responsible companies could be the only way you’ll be able to obtain fair compensation for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium (for spouse)
• Wrongful death (if you lost a loved one to a recall-related lung injury or cancer)

To learn if you qualify to file a Sunscreen Lawsuit, give us a call today (888) 994-5118.

The consultation is free, and because we represent all of our clients on contingency, you won’t pay any legal fees unless your case is successful and our attorneys recover compensation on your behalf.