US-based Valisure has disclosed the detection of benzene, a known human carcinogen, “can format high levels in Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) actne treatment products.

Foreign news services said brands like Estee Lauder’s Clinique and Reckitt Benchkiser-owned Clearasil were among these the over-the-counter ointments containing benzene

As a result of its findings, Valisure filed a petition with the US Food and Drug Administration, for the recall of the products. It also sought an investigation and revise industry guidance.

“Valisure’s tests show that on-market BPO products can form over 800 times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million (ppm) for benzene, and the current evidence suggests that problem applies broadly to BPO products currently on the market,” said the laboratory located in New Haven, Connecticut.

It added: “Valisure is asking the FDA to consider a market withdrawal, similar to Valisure's 2019 FDA Citizen Petition on Zantac/ranitidine products, that were subsequently removed from the market globally.

The laboratory said the FDA petition “details results on hundreds of products tested”

Clearasil-maker Recklitt disputed the findings, saying that it “reflects unrealistic scenarios rather than real-world conditions.” The firm stressed that its products are safe if used and stored in directions found in the labels.

On the other hand, Estee Lauder admitted that Clinique contains benzoyl peroxide in one of its product but is “safe for use as intended.”

Citing laboratory tests, Valisure disclosed that “high levels of benzene were not only detected inside BPO products, but also in the air around incubated BPO products.”

It stressed that this shows that “benzene can leak out of some product packages and pose a potentially serious inhalation risk.”