ALS Benzene Testing ensures the safety of products against benzene

Recent research and publications have indicated the presence of the chemical benzene (a known carcinogen) in various beauty and personal care products such as products containing benzoyl peroxide (e.g., acne products), sunscreens and aerosol products.

ALS offers services to Beauty and Personal Care clients to demonstrate the absence of benzene in finished products. Even though it is among the 20 most used chemical products in the USA, the use of benzene in daily-use products such as cosmetics and medications are not recommended, as it is absorbed by the skin and affects the body cells and immunological system directly.

World Health Organization Definition

Benzene is listed as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Environmental Protection agency (EPA), California Office of Environmental Health Assessment (OEHHA) Proposition 65 program and many other regulatory agencies. Therefore, the use of benzene in daily-use products such as cosmetics and medications are not recommended with strict limits set by the FDA. Benzene is known to be absorbed by the skin and has been shown to affect the immune system.

Safety Regulations

The FDA and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidance suggests that if Benzene is unavoidable to produce (e.g., a drug product) then its levels should be restricted to 2 parts per million (ppm). California Proposition 65 limits for benzene based on maximum daily allowed limit in micrograms per day is 6.4 for oral consumption and 13 for inhalation.

ALS has all the safety tests portfolio available to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic market, with the purpose of identifying the formulations that use the substance, and to limit its distribution, warning of its dangers, and offering safe analytical solutions.

The head space Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) method currently performed at ALS allows for a 0.1 ppm detection level which is well below the prescribed thresholds.

Get in Touch with ALS Experts

The analyses done by ALS follow all the regulatory and ethical standards not only to understand the specific problem, but also to help protect the public health. The focus is to ensure the efficacy and safety of the products that reach the market, using all the structure necessary to present the sponsors with reliable reports that will support them towards the development of highly safe products for use.

Our team of experts can also collaborate with you to review your cosmetic formulations to ensure it is safe and compliant.

Protect your brand reputation and your health consumers. Send an inquiry to beauty.usa@alsglobal.com or call +1 310 214-0043