Johnson & Johnson did not reveal the levels of benzene found in its products, but said that, based on EPA guidelines, 'daily exposure to benzene in these aerosol sunscreen products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.' Still, the company made the voluntary recall 'out of an abundance of caution,' the statement said. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits benzene in drinking water to 0.005 ppm, or 5 parts per billion (ppb), which is also the limit for bottled water.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration limits workplace exposure to benzene in the air to 1 part per million (ppm) on an average day and a maximum of 5 ppm over a 15-minute period, according to the American Cancer Society.
Exposure to high levels of benzene causes cancer in humans, particularly blood cancer, including leukemia.
