Winter 2025
As discussed in the article, “Benzene: Everywhere You Look,” Valisure, a Connecticut-based analytical laboratory, performed its own tests and then subsequently submitted five citizen petitions in the last three years to the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) regarding elevated levels of benzene in certain consumer products. Here, we provide details of each petition, including analytical chemistry methods (see Chart).
March 24, 2021 – Hand Sanitizer Products
Valisure requested actions be taken by US FDA, including an immediate recall of several batches of hand sanitizer products across multiple brands, after testing and detecting benzene in 44 samples.
May 24, 2021 – Sunscreen and After-Sun Care Products
Valisure requested actions be taken by US FDA, including a recall of several batches of sunscreen and after-sun care products across multiple brands, after testing and detecting high levels of benzene in 78 samples.
November 3, 2021 – Body Spray Products
Valisure requested actions be taken by the US FDA, including a recall of several batches of antiperspirant and deodorant body spray products across multiple brands, after testing 108 unique batches from 30 different brands and detecting high levels of benzene in 59 lots.
October 31, 2022 – Dry Shampoo Products
Valisure requested actions be taken by the US FDA, including a recall of several batches of dry shampoo products across multiple brands, after detecting benzene in 70 percent of samples tested. In addition to product testing, benzene concentrations in air were tested for two dry shampoo brands by selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). Shampoos were sprayed for 10 seconds in a 550 foot3 (ft3) chamber approximately 1 foot from the SIFT-MS inlet and showed a transient and rapidly dissipated spike in concentration during spraying.
March 5, 2024 – Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) Acne Treatment Products
Valisure requested actions be taken by the US FDA, including a recall and suspension of sale of products containing benzoyl peroxide, after testing of 66 prescription and over-the counter benzoyl peroxide products revealed that benzene can form at high levels in BPO acne treatment products. SIFT-MS was used with two products to demonstrate that at elevated temperatures (158°F) decomposition of benzoyl peroxide products may result in elevated concentrations of benzene in small, enclosed spaces (18.6 ft3), but it is unclear how relevant these testing conditions are for consumer exposure.
