Lab Finds High Benzene Levels in Some Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Products, Petitions FDA for Recalls
• Independent lab Valisure found high levels of cancer-causing benzene in some benzoyl peroxide acne products when stored at high temperatures over time
• Benzene levels in some tested products were over 800 times the FDA's limit, and benzene gas was found in air around one product at 1,270 times EPA inhalation exposure threshold
• 99 out of 175 tested acne products contained benzoyl peroxide, and 94 of those were found to contain benzene that formed from the benzoyl peroxide itself
• Valisure petitioned the FDA to request recalls and sales suspensions of benzoyl peroxide acne products due to the potential benzene contamination risk
• This isn't the first Valisure petition about benzene - last year they found it in dry shampoos and in 2021 in sunscreens, but this case is different since benzene forms from the active ingredient itself