Manufacturers should generally not use benzene in the manufacture of drugs. This is personal.". Johnson & Johnson, which recalled sunscreens in July, said 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.. In small amounts over long periods of time, benzene can decrease the formation of blood cells. "I was watching him and knowing, he doesn't even realize he's suffocating," he said. Costatini AS, et al. And now, Johnson & Johnson is voluntarily recalling five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens some of which were mentioned in Valisure's report after their own internal testing found low levels of benzene in some samples of the products, according to a company press release. The EPA data that the Tribune used for its analysis, which was originally obtained by the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, shows that benzene spiked above 1,000 parts per billion on at least seven different days after the second and last shelter-in-place advisory expired - although it's unclear from the data whether those spikes lasted for an average of one minute. . It is highly toxic and is a known carcinogen; exposure to it may cause leukemia. Although FDA testing is rigorous and standards are high, it's not a foolproof system, she adds. It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable. Synonyms: Benzene. Help us end cancer as we know it,for everyone. On March 31, two weeks after the ITC fire erupted into flames, the EPA mobile lab was still driving around Deer Park, testing the air. Shell Oil Company built the first refinery in the area in 1928, and since then, generations of Deer Park residents have crossed state Highway 225 to work in the petrochemical industry. Guevara worries that his family won't know the full impact of their benzene exposure for years. "If we get something sustained above [1,000 parts per billion], we notify the local governments to evacuate or shelter-in-place, whichever is more appropriate for the community," Adams said. But the EPA's air monitoring bus continued detecting elevated levels of benzene as it drove through the industrial areas lining the Houston Ship Channel early that week, the Tribune's analysis shows. Toxic burn pits put the health of US veterans at risk. Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C 6 H 6. At room temperature, benzene is a colorless, or pale yellow, liquid with a . "One of the things that I think the government tries hard to do is to be fair to everyone without being too quick to overly react," Garcia said. Some devices, including the EPA's air monitoring bus, were not deployed until days after the fire broke out. IARC classifies benzene as carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence that it causes acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The county has created a community air response monitoring program, expanded staffing and purchased more disaster response equipment, said Dimetra Hamilton, a Harris County Pollution Control spokesperson. The EPA limits concentrations of benzene in drinking water to 5 ppb (parts per billion). County health providers screened more than 900 people and referred the worst cases to local hospitals. This contamination is a public health concern and has caused significant outcry among environmental and health advocates. In order to ensure their products conform to appropriate quality specifications (21 CFR 211.84, 21 CFR 211.160), and consistent with the recommendations in the ICH Q3C guidance, applicants and manufacturers who identify risks of benzene contamination from drug components or confirm the presence of benzene in a drug product should also take steps to use ingredients without benzene, or, if justified, use suppliers that minimize risk of unacceptable benzene impurity levels. When he stepped out to the backyard, a sanctuary where his family usually grills and gathers around a table to gossip, he said he experienced chest pains. In late September, Coppertone also announced a recall of five of its popular sunscreens after detecting benzene. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. When possible, limit the time you spend near idling car engines. Twice, city officials advised residents of Deer Park, the city closest to the fire, to shelter indoors. "It's horrifying, scary. The fire had been out for days when Ochoa, a 39-year-old pipe fitter at an industrial construction company, sat awake late into the night worrying about his son, who complained that his head hurt. The bus recorded several spikes of benzene above 1,000 parts per billion on Friday afternoon outside of the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, a popular tourist destination just down the road from ITC (it was closed to the public during the fire). "We didn't realize the amount of people that were going to actually show up," said Michael McClendon, the director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at Harris County Public Health. The contaminated sunscreens include both chemical and mineral formulas. As one of the most commonly-made chemicals in the United States, benzene is often used to make many other chemicals. Throughout the response, a plane brought in by the EPA flew above the fire and the plume, monitoring the air and providing eyes from above, while TCEQ and Harris County employees on the ground recorded benzene levels on hand-held air monitors, in addition to CTEH's monitoring efforts for the city and company. Likewise, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets a limit of 5 ppb in bottled water. Certain hand sanitizers and aerosol drug products have been recalled due to benzene contamination. In the past it was also commonly used as an industrial solvent (a substance that can dissolve or extract other substances) and as a gasoline additive, but these uses have been greatly reduced in recent decades. Benzene pollution lingers as life returns to normal - March 25-29, 2019. If any readings crossed that threshold, Adams said the agencies would notify local officials and the public. When inhaled in large quantities over a short period, benzene can affect the central nervous system and cause symptoms including dizziness, a rapid heart rate and headaches. "My soul remembers. Deer Park said in a statement later that day that the city was obtaining "normal levels" of air pollutants. undefined. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene has been tied to thedevelopment of leukemiaand other cancers, as well as various menstrual issues in women and birth defects in their children. He advised her to drink lots of water and stay indoors. Several US government agencies regulate benzene levels and exposures. "We didn't want to alarm the public needlessly," Hemminger said. Accessed at https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics/facts.asp on January 25, 2023. International Agency for Research on Cancer. We can also help you find other free or low-cost resources available. All rights reserved. Manufacturers of NDA and ANDA drug products whose testing reveals their drug products contain benzene below 2 ppm should contact FDA at CDER-benzene@fda.hhs.gov. Stokes, the Deer Park city manager, declined to answer questions about the high levels of benzene recorded on March 31 by the EPA and TCEQ. That was below the 1,000 parts per billion threshold set by Unified Command, but it was 12 times above the highest concentration of benzene typically found in the area. The most frequent symptoms were headache, throat irritation, nausea, coughing, dizziness and vomiting. Valisure most frequently found benzene in body sprays, which includes deodorants and anti-perspirants: nearly half of the 108 products from 30 different brands contained it. A propellant like butane thats refined very early in the manufacturing process touches dozens of different hands in its journey from raw material to sunscreen on a shelf, yet nobody detected benzene, Light said. People can also be exposed to benzene in contaminated drinking water and some foods (although the levels are usually very low). Benzene is a colourless liquid with a characteristic odour and is primarily used in the production of polystyrene. ITC said in a statement to the Tribune that there were "no longer-term public health impacts to the community" from the incident, pointing to an analysis by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Federal regulations limit exposure to benzene in the workplace (see below). A: Benzene is a chemical used in the production of a wide range of industrial products, including chemicals, dyes, detergents, and some plastics.Benzene is released into the . Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to benzene may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, as well as eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, and, at high levels . ", Fire rages as residents fall ill - March 17-19, 2019. Other people who may be exposed to benzene at work include steel workers, printers, lab technicians, gas station employees, and firefighters. Some studies have also suggested links tochildhood leukemia(particularly AML) as well asacute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL),chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and other blood-related cancers (such asmultiple myelomaandnon-Hodgkin lymphoma) in adults. They adapted it from the federal workplace standard, which allows worker exposure up to 1,000 parts per billion over an 8-hour work day. Spray sunblock and sun aftercare lotions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed air monitoring data from the incident and found that the concentrations of benzene exceeded what the agency considers safe - but did not believe they were high enough to cause widespread cases of cancer. In urine, benzene detection involves the measurement of benzene metabolites (end products of benzene), some of which can be measured, but this is not a fully accurate test since there can be numerous other reasons for the presence of similar metabolites in urine. These include the rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, shoe manufacturers, and gasoline-related industries. Medical professionals useseveral teststo determine whether you've been overexposed to benzene, each of which measures benzene levels in your blood, breath, or urine. FDA reminds drug manufacturers they are required to establish scientifically sound and appropriate specifications and test procedures to assure drug components (active and inactive ingredients) and finished drug products conform to appropriate quality specifications (21 CFR 211.84, 21 CFR 211.160). Certainly, over-exposure to benzene in any setting might generate a legal claim against the institution or person that caused the exposure. Exposure to benzene liquid or vapor can irritate the skin, eyes, and throat.
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