Sunscreens sold in Australia will be tested after numerous studies from the US found that they contained two cancer-causing chemicals.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said it was investigating whether products sold across the country contained two carcinogenic substances; benzene and benzophenone.
WHEN DID THE ISSUE START?
In June, Valisure, an independent quality assurance laboratory based in the US, tested generic medicines for purity and found that nearly 80 sunscreens, including popular brands similar to those sold in Australia, contained benzene.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Benzene works by causing cells not to work correctly. It can hinder oxygen transfer in the body as well as impede the immune system.
Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause leukemia; a cancer of the blood-forming organs.
Following, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, another US laboratory, found that sunscreens that contained the approved ingredient – octocrylene – may also be dangerous as they found that octocrylene degrades over time and produces benzophenone.
Though used as a UV filter, prolonged exposure to large amounts of benzophenone can cause cancer.
Coppertone, Banana Boat, Neutrogena, Garnier, LaRoche and L’Oreal were some of the brands tested in the study and were found to contain octocrylene.
The lab wrote to the US medicines regulator – the US Food and Drugs Administration – asking it to pull all sunscreens that contained the risky ingredient.
TGA’S RESPONSE
A spokesperson for the TGA stated that the organization is currently investigating the issue. They are testing samples of sunscreen products containing benzene as well as products containing octocrylene, for the presence of benzophenone, and compliance with existing standards.
They noted that they will share the results on the TGA website when available.
A medical regulator for the TGA said that the organization regularly conducts laboratory testing and reviews the safety of Australian sunscreens but they do not regularly test for carcinogenic components.
“Based on currently available data, the TGA does not consider that octocrylene, presents an unacceptable safety risk when the sunscreens are used as directed,” they said.
They also added that benzophenone had been reported to be detected only at trace amounts in octocrylene-containing products.
“There is currently insufficient information to conclude that sunscreens that are compliant with existing requirements for product stability and impurities, such as benzophenone, are unsafe.” They said
Around 2000 Australians die of skin cancer every year. Citizens are urged to continue to use all five forms of sun protection when UV levels are 3 or above – slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses.”