Live data from Hacker News

Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

valisure.com

241–250 of 309 posts

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#241
post #2

So this is bad, obviously, but I want to plug Valisure and consumerlab both. For whatever reason there’s so little testing out there for both generic drugs and vitamins and supplements, and both of these guys really do have our backs. I’m very happy to support both to be doing what I feel like the FDA with more funding should be doing themselves.

> I’m very happy to support both to be doing what I feel like the FDA with more funding should be doing themselves. IMHO, I prefer an organization like Valisure over the FDA any day. Democratic governments must represent all of their constituents which means there will always be a path (pressure groups, fundraising, etc.) for corporate interests to get outcomes they want under the guise of lobbying their representati…

On the other hand, there is a parallel thread [1] showing the problems with blindly trusting private interests for regulation and law enforcement.

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27295320

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#242
post #232
post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. From the above Reuters article "The World Health Organization and other authorities recognize no safe level of exposure to asbestos. While most people exposed never develop cancer, for some, even small amounts of asbestos are enough to trigger the disease years later." https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsona...

As I understand it, there's also trace levels of naturally-occurring asbestos pretty much everywhere humans live, so there's also no way to completely avoid exposure.

The impact is cumulative so unavoidable environmental exposure increases the concern about additional exposure from consumer products.

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#243

A friend of mine developed a shit free sunscreen. It’s pretty good: https://new-layer.com/collections/sunscreen

Your friend's SPF 50 ingredients list[0]:

Aqua, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Pentylene Glycol, Decyl Oleate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Undecane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Tridecane, Fructooligosaccharides, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene (synthetic, no Paraffin), Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Arginine, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Needless to say that I do believe in your friend's expertise and intentions. I only posted this to show how impossible it is for normal consumers like myself to assess sunscreen quality.

https://new-layer.com/collections/sunscreen/products/pro-vit...

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In America, you could have a product that saves 1000 lives but kills 1, and you'll get your pants sued off for the one.

This is one of those things that sounds bad on first glance, but doesn't withstand deeper scrutiny. It's largely either a good thing or else not true. If the 1000 lives were not in imminent danger or else could have been saved by other means, it's not trivially true that only killing 1 in 1000 should be neglected. How does that compare to the alternative methods? Could it have been avoided with small or reasonable ch…

The government provides immunity for vaccine producers because of this.

Another example is nuclear power.

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#245
post #15

I found this article through a friend of my wife's who is a skincare expert. Check your cabinets. I actually found the Neutrogena lotion that we use in the table of affected products! List of affected products: https://www.valisure.com/wp-content/uploads/Valisure-Citizen... List of unaffected products: https://www.valisure.com/wp-content/uploads/Attachment-A-Tab...

Next question:

Why would anyone trust that 100% of what's in vaccines is fully declared on the labels?

(In this article, Neutrogena is being accused which is part of Johnson & Johnson which produce one of the Covid vaccines available.)

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Asbestos has to be in a “friable” form for it to be bad. The particles are so small they can get into deep your lungs. I actually was at a landfill expansion project where a backhoe digging down through the trash hit some bags labeled asbestos. I’m glad it was raining. Also worked in a building with asbestos in the floor tiles. Fine when not disturbed, but anytime they had to remove them it was a production. https://…

In high school I helped a friend rip up the floor tiles in his basement which were probably from the 50s. Years later I realized I could have been exposed to asbestos, is there any way to know whether asbestos would have been in the particular tiles I was ripping up?

You can get the tiles tested if you still have access to any of them.

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#247
post #2

So this is bad, obviously, but I want to plug Valisure and consumerlab both. For whatever reason there’s so little testing out there for both generic drugs and vitamins and supplements, and both of these guys really do have our backs. I’m very happy to support both to be doing what I feel like the FDA with more funding should be doing themselves.

> I’m very happy to support both to be doing what I feel like the FDA with more funding should be doing themselves. IMHO, I prefer an organization like Valisure over the FDA any day. Democratic governments must represent all of their constituents which means there will always be a path (pressure groups, fundraising, etc.) for corporate interests to get outcomes they want under the guise of lobbying their representati…

Except Valisure has no responsibility to answer to anyone but themselves and their own financial interests, and has no mandate from congress or ability to respond to legislated guidelines.

They so far seem like “the good guys” but Id far rather find a way to have a public institution be able to do this without worries as to profit or sustainability.

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#248
post #48
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah but hopefully you don't rub that stuff all over your face and just pump it into your car.

I got a bunch all over me while working on the jetski this weekend. Whee

huge and freaky brah

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a good book called bottle of lies that talks about how overwhelmed the FDA is and how often many products slip through the cracks, including generic medicines.

Intentionally overwhelmed. Lawmakers and the revolving door heads don't actually want regulation to work.

[deleted]

Re: Benzene detected in many sunscreen products

#250
post #2

So this is bad, obviously, but I want to plug Valisure and consumerlab both. For whatever reason there’s so little testing out there for both generic drugs and vitamins and supplements, and both of these guys really do have our backs. I’m very happy to support both to be doing what I feel like the FDA with more funding should be doing themselves.

There's a good book called bottle of lies that talks about how overwhelmed the FDA is and how often many products slip through the cracks, including generic medicines.

In 2019, the FDA budget was 0.86% of the DOD budget.

As in, not within two orders of magnitude.

Post reply on HN