Benzene Testing Services
Global expertise, personal touch
Benzene is a chemical solvent that becomes an environmental pollutant due to its release into the air. It is used commonly in the automobile industry, but also by companies that manufacture dyes, plastics, detergents, drugs, pesticides, and other organic chemicals for industrial use such as styrene, phenol, cyclohexane, aniline and more. The primary use of benzene in the U.S. is ethylbenzene. This substance is naturally found in coal tar, but is used to create paint, pesticides, and ink.
Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Numerous studies have confirmed that exposure to benzene whether through inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin or eye contact poses significant health hazards.
A non-exhaustive list of cosmetics and personal care products and their materials where benzene is found:
- Sunscreens and suncare products
- Hand sanitizer
- Spray deodorants and antiperspirants
- Dry shampoo and conditioner sprays
- Aerosols
- Nail polish
- Solvents and colorants
- Hair dyes
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Skin creams and lotions
- Perfumes and fragrances
- Makeup and cosmetics
- Anti-acne product
Legislation:
- The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognizes the serious dangers of benzene and lists it as a ‘Class 1 solvent’ that should not be used in standard manufacturing of drugs substances, excipients, and drug products because of its toxicity. However, if its use is unavoidable in order to produce a drug then its levels should be restricted to 2ppm in special circumstances. This exception however does not apply in sunscreen manufacturing.
- In Canada, sunscreens are classified as non-prescription drugs or natural health products, depending on their active ingredients. They are regulated under the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations. The USP limit required for benzene is not more than 2ppm. It is important for people to practice sun protection especially in the summer months and equally important to have peace of mind that the products they use are safe.
- In Europe, benzene is a prohibited substance according to the European Regulation No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. According to the European Regulation No 1907/2006 (REACH), benzene shall not be used in toys or parts of toys where the concentration of benzene is greater than 5 mg/kg (0.0005 %) of the weight of the toy or part of toy.
Our offer:
At Eurofins Cosmetic and Personal Care, our teams can help you ensure that your product is of high quality, safe for end-users, and compliant with health and safety regulations. Our teams can also work with you to identify and mitigate any production processes that may lead to the formation of benzene in your product.
