Benzene in Hand Sanitizers

Recently, Valisure added benzene to their list of compounds that they test for in drug and consumer products that are sold through their online pharmacy. They started detecting benzene in hand sanitizers. According to Valisure’s petition, they “tested and detected high levels of benzene and other contaminants in specific batches of hand sanitizer products containing active pharmaceutical ingredients of ethanol and isopropanol.”

Valisure analyzed 260 bottles from 168 brands and found 17% of the samples contained detectable levels of benzene. And 21 bottles (8% of the samples) contained benzene above two parts per million (ppm), a temporary limit the FDA set for liquid hand sanitizers to alleviate the supply shortage during the pandemic.

A contaminant such as benzene that can harm individuals through dermal absorption or inhalation
is of great concern for public health as it can affect individuals who properly use hand sanitizer
on exposed skin or breath its fumes. According to David Light, the CEO of the Valisure lab, “It’s shocking and frustrating to be detecting any levels of benzene in such a broadly used consumer product. The toxicity of benzene has been known for over 120 years. It’s directly linked with causing leukemia in humans. It’s a group one carcinogen, it’s at the top of the FDA list of chemicals not to use in manufacturing.”

Bottles of hand sanitizer from these 15 brands are identified in Valisure’s report as having high levels of benzene:

PhotoProduct NameUPC/NDCLots TestedTypeBenzene Mean (ppm ± %SD)
artnaturals
hand sanitizer
SCENT FREE
NATURAL ELEMENTS +
CLEANSING FORMULA
8 fl oz (236 ml)
UPC:
816820028205
NDC:
74642-000
UnknownGel16.1 ± 3%
*17.7
**82
artnaturals
hand sanitizer
SCENT FREE
NATURAL ELEMENTS +
CLEANSING FORMULA
8 fl oz (236 ml)
UPC:
816820028205
NDC:
74642-000
Unknown Gel9 15.2 ± 2%
SS LAVENDER & HERBS
scented sanitizer
ALCOHOL ANTISEPTIC
70%
3.38 FL. OZ. (100 mL)
UPC: Unknown
NDC: [75078-002,
75078-003,
75078-004]
20253 Manual Pump Spray13.8 ± 2%
*14.2
**40
huangjisoo
HAND SANITIZER
GEL TYPE HAND
CLEANSER
62% ETHANOL
91% ORGANIC
500ml/16.9 FL.OZ
UPC:
8809353931106
NDC:
73713-030
JE003 Gel11.4 ± 3%
*11.7
TrueWash
Instant Hand Sanitizer
Natural
16 fl oz – (500 ml)
UPC:
817223010262
NDC:
[75478-007]
202005JX01 Gel6.2 ± 3%
*7.4
The Crème Shop
Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer Peppermint Scented Infused with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E d
UPC:
849980064417
NDC:
[74200-0014]
UnknownGel4.6 ± 2%
*5.4
STARWARS
MANDALORIAN
HAND SANITZER (blue)
2.11 fl oz/60 mL
UPC:
042887437203
NDC:
[74530-022]
20G1021 Gel3.9 ± 0%
*4.5
**4
STARWARS
MANDALORIAN
HAND SANITZER (green)
2.11 fl oz/60 mL
UPC:
042887437203
NDC:
[74530-022]
20G1021Gel3.8 ± 2%
BODY PRESCRIPTIONS
Winter Mint
Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
NET WT 12 GL OZ / 360
ML
UPC:
192598534293
NDC:
[50563-271]
BL091820-1 Gel3.7 ± 1%
*4.3
BORN BASIC
ANTI-BAC HAND
SANITIZER
[70% ALCOHOL – 100%
BASIC]
16.9 FL OZ [500 mL]
UPC:
840038214563
NDC:
[76891-111]
2933420 Gel3.5 ± 5%
*3.6
beauty concepts
Sugar Cookie
ANTIBACTERIAL HAND
SANITIZER
75% ALCOHOL
NET WT 355ML/12 FL OZ
UPC:
192598534286
NDC:
50563-272
BL091420-1 Gel3.2 ± 2%
*4.0
artnaturals
hand sanitizer
SCENT FREE
NATURAL ELEMENTS +
CLEANSING FORMULA
8 fl oz (236 ml)
UPC:
816820028205
NDC: Unknown
UnknownGel3.1 ± 1%
*3.5
PureLogic HAND
SANITIZER
ALOE + GREEN TEA
8 FL OZ (236ML)
UPC:
191205476339
NDC:
77731-039
UnknownGel2.9 ± 4%
*2.3
MIAMI CARRY ON
INSTANT SANITIZER
GEL soothing gel – wash free – with aloe
75% Alcohol
16.9 FL OZ (500 mL)
UPC:
848484050186
NDC:
75819-001
SCS20061266 Gel2.7 ± 4%
*2.0
Natural Wunderz
Triple Action Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
Aloe Vera
75% Alcohol
Infused with 100% natural extracts
12.7 fl oz (375mL)
UPC:
850016747150
NDC:
[79360-101]
NW-20122Gel2.6 ± 1%
*2.1
clean-protect-sanitize
HAND SANITIZER
70% ALCOHOL
ADVANCED FORMULA
SULFATE FREE – VEGAN
PARABEN FREE
16.9 fl oz – 500 mL
UPC:
805572180828
NDC: Unknown
H45220244Gel2.4 ± 3%
clean-protect-sanitize
HAND SANITIZER
70% ALCOHOL
ADVANCED FORMULA
SULFATE FREE – VEGAN
PARABEN FREE
16.9 fl oz – 500 mL
UPC:
805572180828
NDC: Unknown
H45320245Gel2.4 ± 2%
PURETIZE
Hand Sanitizer
70% Alcohol
Moisturizing Formula
16.9 FL OZ (500ml)
UPC:
810016711544
NDC:
[76887-102]
WC 072005Gel2.4 ± 0%
*2.4
clean-protect-sanitize
HAND SANITIZER
70% ALCOHOL
ADVANCED FORMULA
SULFATE FREE – VEGAN
PARABEN FREE
16.9 fl oz – 500 mL
UPC:
805572180828
NDC: Unknown
H41020239Gel2.4 ± 2%
clean-protect-sanitize
HAND SANITIZER
70% ALCOHOL
ADVANCED FORMULA
SULFATE FREE – VEGAN
PARABEN FREE
16.9 fl oz – 500 mL
UPC:
805572180828
NDC: Unknown
H39720239Gel2.2 ± 4%
*1.5
Hand Clean 100
Ethanol Gel
Cos Nine
UPC:
8809591351124
NDC:
73330-0004
20F05001Gel7 2.1 ± 2%
An asterisk “” denotes data generated by the Chemical and Biophysical Instrumentation Center at Yale University from a sample from the same lot and specific product package. Two asterisks “*” denotes data generated by Boston Analytical, Inc. from a sample of the same lot and specific product package.

If you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, or multiple myeloma and have regularly used any of these hand sanitizer products, we urge you to call us toll free at 877-704-7674.  We will evaluate your potential benzene claim at no charge. 

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