For years, medical professionals have been urging Americans to wear plenty of sunscreen, and the need for sun protections is absolutely critical in South Florida. However, recent findings by a pharmaceutical industry research group have revealed that those who slather on SPF could be at risk of developing cancer. Valisure, a company dedicated to protecting consumers through transparency and accountability, announced that many of the familiar sunscreen brands you rely on for sun protection contain benzene. This substance is recognized by many leading authorities as being carcinogenic and the cause of many other health problems.
Unfortunately, despite Valisure’s discovery of benzene and warnings to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), no official action has been taken regarding dangerous sunscreen and after-sun products. You may still have rights under Florida law, and a Miami dangerous products attorney can explain in more detail. Some background on the dangers and legal concepts may also be useful.
Additional Details on Benzene in Sunscreen
Valisure researchers tested almost 80 different sunscreen, after-sun, and other sun protection products in their study, and found that 27% contained cancer-causing benzene. You should also note that:
- The amount of this substance in different products varied, but some batches contained up to three times the amount considered dangerous by the FDA.
- Benzene is recognized as a carcinogen by the CDC, WHO, US health officials, and many other regulatory bodies at the federal and global level.
- A person can be exposed to unacceptably high levels of benzene through inhalation, ingestion, and eye contact, but the biggest risk is absorption through skin.
In addition, an important point is that the FDA has defined benzene as a Class 1 solvent, which should not be used in the manufacture of products because of toxicity, UNLESS there are significant therapeutic benefits. The fact that benzene was not found in almost three-quarters of sunscreen brands indicates that it is not the active ingredient that produces therapeutic benefits. As a result, Valisure argues that any benzene level should be deemed unacceptable.
Overview of Florida Products Liability Laws
In general, a consumer who is injured by a defective product has a cause of action against the manufacturer that produced the good. Though there are multiple theories of liability, most dangerous product cases are based upon no-fault principles. Otherwise known as strict liability, you do not need to prove that the manufacturer was negligent in producing a defective good. In a successful products liability case, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Costs for medical treatment;
- Pain and suffering;
- Scarring and disfigurement;
- Emotional anguish; and,
- Many other types of losses.
Contact a Miami Products Liability Lawyer for Additional Information
Even as government officials consider taking action and manufacturers review their internal processes, you may still have legal options if you suffered bodily harm because of dangerous products. To learn more about them, please contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL. We can set up a no-cost case review to assess your circumstances and determine whether you qualify for products liability compensation.