(TNS) — Multiple acne treatment products, including Clearasil, Proactiv and Clinique, have been found to have an “unacceptably high” level of the carcinogenic chemical benzene, according to a report from an independent laboratory.
Valisure, a Connecticut-based company, issued a statement on Wednesday saying that it found levels of the chemical 800 times over the regulatory limit during an independent study.
Benzene is known to increase the risk of of leukemia and other blood disorders. It is considered a possible cause of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma, Yahoo News said.
Valisure said the high levels are caused by benzoyl peroxide decomposing into benzene over time when combined with other ingredients in the medication, and is not caused by any contamination.
“This discovery of benzoyl peroxide’s fundamental instability and formation of benzene is substantially different than Valisure’s previous findings of benzene in sunscreens, hand sanitizers and other consumer products,” David Light, Valisure’s co-founder and president, said. “The benzene we found in sunscreens and other consumer products were impurities that came from contaminated ingredients; however, the benzene in benzoyl peroxide products is coming from the benzoyl peroxide itself, sometimes at hundreds of times the conditional FDA limit. This means the problem broadly affects benzoyl peroxide products, both prescription and over-the-counter, and necessitates urgent action.”
Reckitt, which owns Clearasil, said in a statement sent to CBS News that it is “confident that all Clearasil products, when used and stored as directed on their labels, are safe. The safety and quality of our products is our top priority and we work closely with regulators around the world to ensure our products are safe and effective for their intended use.”
Estee Lauder told Reuters that it uses benzoyl peroxide in one Clinique product, and that it “is safe for use as intended.”
Valisure has issued a petition to the Food and Drug Administration, asking the agency to issue a recall of these products.
An FDA spokesperson told CBS News that it had received the petition, and that “the agency acts on information provided from a variety of sources, such as that provided by Valisure, but such data must be verified as accurate and reproducible before it can be utilized to make regulatory decisions such as recommending product sale suspensions and recalls. The agency will continue to provide updates to the public regarding benzene in drug products, as appropriate.”
Yale School of Medicine dermatologist Dr. Christopher Bunick said to CBS News that benzoyl peroxide that don’t have benzoyl peroxide are available and to consult with your healthcare provider if you’re concerned.
