A Banana Boat sunscreen has been recalled. Here’s what you need to know.

Edgewell Personal Care Company has issued a voluntary recall of Banana Boat Solar Hair and Scalp Spray which was sold online and in retail stores across the country.

An analysis of sunscreen samples found “traces” of benzene — an odorless and colorless toxic chemical — in the product, according to an advisory issued Monday by the Food and Drug Administration. Benzene is not an ingredient used in Banana Boat products and the review indicated this the chemical was unintentionally from a propellant used to spray the product from the can.

The recall applies to four batches of spray with sun protection factor 30. Other than these, no other Banana Boat products are being recalled. No adverse events have been reported, but Edgewell advises customers to discard any box with one of the affected lot codes at the bottom.

We are all exposed to low levels of benzene in our daily lives because it is ubiquitous in the environment and commonly used in plastic and rubber products. But it can become a threat to human health if exposed to very large or excessive amounts for a long time. And because it’s a known carcinogen, health experts say it’s best to avoid the substance.

“Benzene is in the same ballpark as asbestos and lead. “Many scientists agree that there is no safe level of benzene,” said Dr. Chris Bunika Yale Medicine dermatologist researching the chemical’s health effects.

Benzene it is found naturally in the environment – ​​in air, water and soil – and in many plastics, detergents, pesticides and synthetic fibres. Tobacco smoke and vehicle exhaust also contain benzene. According to Bunick, it occasionally gets into spray-based personal care products, such as after-sun sprays and deodorant sprays, accidentally during the manufacturing process. As a result, everyone is regularly exposed to small amounts of benzene, either by inhaling the chemical, eating it, or absorbing it through the skin.

Benzene can affect the immune system e affects the functioning of our cells. However, health effects largely depend on the level of contact. “Although we are all exposed to small amounts of benzene every day, exposure to larger amounts of benzene is linked to adverse health effects,” said Dr. Kelly Johnson Arbortoxicologist and acting executive director of the National Capital Poison Center.

Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headache and loss of consciousness. At extremely high levels, it can cause death. Long-term, which is defined as more than one year of regular exposure, can contribute to the development of cancer, including leukemia and other blood disorders. Long-term exposure it has also been linked to irregular periods and decreased ovarian size. Most people who developed cancer after long-term exposure to benzene worked in industrial settings that allowed for regular contact with high levels of the chemical, according to Johnson-Arbor.

Because the affected Banana Boat products contained low levels of benzene, health experts do not expect them to cause immediate problems if someone accidentally inhales the spray. “The amount of benzene found in these products was low and not expected to cause health effects,” Johnson-Arbor said.

Benzene can be found in a variety of household products, such as antiperspirants and dry shampoos, so you’ll need to be careful where and how you use these items. Bunick advises his patients to avoid any sprays or aerosols, as they are regularly contaminated with benzene.

As with asbestos, there are usually no short-term health effects, but problems could arise later in life, he said. And because many cosmetics are likely to be excessively contaminated, people are exposed to benzene in many places, she added. “It can take years or decades for the problem to emerge. And until long-term cancer occurs, companies can argue that there is no evidence of direct causation,” Bunick said. To further avoid exposure, you can use these products in a well-ventilated area and avoid inhaling the contents, suggests Johnson-Arbor.

The affected Banana Boat sprays are unlikely to cause immediate health effects because the concentrations found in the products are lower than the levels of benzene, which can actually cause mild effects such as dizziness, according to Johnson-Arbor.

If you do have a reaction, or think you have exposed to higher levels of benzene, first you want to get away from the contaminated area and get some fresh air. Next, you’ll want to take off your clothes, wash your body with soap and water, and clean or dispose of your clothes. If you have signs of benzene poisoningsuch as respiratory depression or confusion, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

You should submit a report of your experience to the FDA Here. You can also download a form detailing your reaction Hereprint it and send it to FDA.

IIf you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Poison Control 24 hours a day through its online chat service or by phone at 1-800-222-1222.