Benzene belongs to a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds, so called because they evaporate in the air. "These concentrations are higher than we would normally consider protective," Richard Nickle, an environmental health scientist at the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, said in an April 2019 email to Harris County officials. Use common sense around any chemicals that might contain benzene. An air quality report provided by CTEH shows that it did not not detect any concentrations of benzene above 1,000 parts per billion in Deer Park, Pasadena, Galena Park or Channelview on March 31, however, the report does not indicate at what time the readings were taken. "One of the things that I think the government tries hard to do is to be fair to everyone without being too quick to overly react," Garcia said. In the Wynfield Estates neighborhood, where many of the homes are two-story red brick and shaded by big oak trees, Anthony Guevara, Eddie's 14-year-old brother, didn't go to school that Monday because his eyes were burning and his throat stung. Toxic benzene has been found in antiperspirants, shampoos, sunscreens, hand sanitizers, and other products. "Sufficiently protective values must be balanced against the inherent risk associated with actions such as evacuation.". Accessed at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=38&toxid=14 on January 25, 2023. After reaching a low of 498 U.S. dollars per metric ton, the global price of benzene has increased . These kinds of sunscreens are only one element of a skin-cancer prevention strategy that should also include other sun protective behaviors such as wearing protective clothing that adequately covers the arms, torso, and legs; wearing sunglasses and a hat that provides adequate shade to the whole head; and seeking shade whenever possible during periods of peak sunlight. FDA alerts drug manufacturers to the risk of benzene contamination In December 2020, the brand Purito came under fire for labeling its sunscreen as SPF 50 while independent lab results suggested it only provided SPF 19 protection. We are going through that process with each of these citizen petitions. Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas. It evaporates quickly when exposed to air. Several national and international agencies study substances in the environment to determine if they can cause cancer. The EPA warned in a press release that exposure could cause headaches and nausea, and then Harris County Public Health Executive Director Dr. Umair Shah encouraged residents to call the "Ask a Nurse" hotline if they experienced symptoms. "Anytime you see any kind of black smoke out there, it's not good," he said. Adrian Garcia, a Harris County commissioner who represents Deer Park, said the county was "scrambling" to get current air quality data from the company or from federal and state agencies to inform their decisions. ITC said in a statement to the Tribune that there were "no longer-term public health impacts to the community" from the incident, pointing to an analysis by the Texas Department of State Health Services. FDA has been in communication with USP about removing (or omitting) those carbomer monographs from their compendium since late 2020. If any drug product batches with benzene above 2 ppm are already in distribution, the manufacturer should contact FDA to discuss the voluntary initiation of a recall by contacting the appropriate Division of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations in the Office of Regulatory Affairs. A: Yes. But Valisure, an online pharmacy that conducts routine batch tests of common consumer health products, recently shared some not-so-amazing findings about some sunscreens that may already be on your shelf. 2023 American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights reserved. In 2020, FDA identified the potential for unacceptable levels of benzene in certain carbomers (which may be used as thickening agents in drugs) based on the allowable limits in USP monographs. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. Whether you want to learn about treatment options, get advice on coping with side effects, or have questions about health insurance, were here to help. PDF Benzene - US EPA Fight between neighbors leads to shooting in NE Houston, police say, New details about King Charles' coronation, 6 shot, 2 fatally, at after-prom party in Mississippi, Conroe ISD secures campuses amid manhunt for alleged mass shooter, Erin Douglas, Alejandra Martinez, and Caroline Covington, The Texas Tribune, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, is known as an industry-friendly environmental consulting firm. "You don't know what you are inhaling or putting in your body," Anthony Guevara said. Benzene is a component of products derived from coal and petroleum and is found in gasoline and other fuels. A group of mostly Houston-area scientists using the most recent science on benzene exposure said that officials should have used a much more conservative threshold - 27 parts per billion in two consecutive hourly readings - and issued seven more shelter-in-place orders and 17 air quality alerts after the fire broke out. It is only slightly soluble in water but readily soluble with most organic solvents. Benzene is released into the air in cigarette smoke, emissions from automobiles, and burning coal and oil. Then, Unified Command notified local authorities. The doctors said they didn't know. High levels of exposure can cause both short-term and long-term health effects. Four years after Ochoa, his 62-year-old mother, his son and countless others were sickened by the ITC fire, federal regulators are still investigating.
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