The sunscreen cancer lawsuits allege that patients who used certain aerosol sunscreen products later developed a variety of cancers, including leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The lawsuit claims that the manufacturer of these aerosol sunscreen products, Johnson & Johnson, failed to warn consumers that the products were tainted with benzene, a toxic chemical that is harmful even in low amounts.
At Mass Tort Alliance, we assist clients who used these aerosol sunscreen products and suffered serious health consequences as a result. Our seasoned attorneys can help you pursue the compensation you need to support yourself and your loved ones through your illness.
Our attorneys at Mass Tort Alliance have the necessary knowledge and resources to take on big corporations, like Johnson & Johnson, who put hazardous products on the market that harm consumers. Our passionate lawyers will work hard to help you seek justice and recover any financial losses you have experienced due to your use of these dangerous products. Contact us today to see if you qualify.
On May 25, 2021, Valisure petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stating that it had discovered potentially harmful levels of the chemical benzene in over a dozen different sunscreen products, including both spray-on and rub-on products.
David Light, the founder and CEO of Valisure, stated, “Benzene is one of the most studied and concerning human carcinogens known to science. Its association with forming blood cancers in humans has been shown in numerous studies at trace levels of parts per million and below. The presence of this known human carcinogen in products widely recommended for the prevention of skin cancer and that are regularly used by adults and children is very troubling.”
Almost two months later, on July 15, 2021, Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of a number of its spray-on sunscreen products, including Neutrogena and Aveeno products, claiming that they had discovered low levels of benzene in samples of the sunscreen. They recommended that any consumers who had purchased these products immediately discontinue use of the products and throw them out.
At the same time, the FDA began investigating the recalled sunscreen products to identify the chemical substance that was causing consumers to develop various types of cancer. Major pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, all pulled Johnson & Johnson’s sunscreen products after Johnson & Johnson reported samples of the products contained the cancer-causing chemical benzene.
Johnson & Johnson recalled the following aerosol sunscreen products in July 2021 after low levels of the harmful chemical benzene were found in the products:
Benzene is one of the most commonly used chemicals in the country. It is a flammable liquid chemical that has been utilized to manufacture plastics, paints, rubber products, and even pesticides. It can be found in petroleum and gas products, as well as crude oil. It can even be found in volcanoes and forest fires.
Benzene has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Benzene has been linked to numerous serious health issues and illnesses. Currently, benzene is categorized as a Class 1 solvent that is harmful even in low levels. Its use is restricted to two parts per million, but Valisure reported much higher amounts of benzene in the products it tested.
Benzene has been linked to various cancers, particularly blood-related cancers, and other ailments, including:
Benzene can also lead to both aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which is known as preleukemia.
Patients who have developed leukemia may experience the following symptoms:
Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma may encounter these symptoms:
Patients with multiple myeloma may experience:
If you have developed leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or another blood-related cancer after exposure to a sunscreen product containing benzene, then you may be entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation that you will be able to receive will depend on your specific circumstances, including the seriousness of your condition and the damage — physical, emotional, and financial — caused by your use of hazardous sunscreen products.
At the Mass Tort Alliance, our lawyers will thoroughly review your case and determine the types of damages that you might be able to receive compensation for. Some of the types of damages you might be able to recover include:
Economic Damages:
Non-economic Damages:
Punitive Damages: Although punitive damages are less frequently awarded than other types of damages, a court may deem punitive damages to be appropriate in cases of extremely careless behavior and gross negligence. Punitive damages are designed to “punish” the defendant for their negligence. In this case, Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers that some of their sunscreen products were dangerous for consumers to use. A judge could find that punitive damages are necessary as a result.
You may be able to file a lawsuit if:
You don’t smoke – Smoking is regularly associated with the development of cancer, so it will be easier for you to demonstrate that benzene caused your cancer if you don’t smoke. If you are a smoker, then it could be argued that your use of benzene was not the root cause of your cancer.
If you developed symptoms of leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, other blood-related cancers, or another illness that you believe is linked to your use of sunscreen products containing benzene, then contact Mass Tort Alliance today for a case review. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the product, Johnson & Johnson, which could help you recoup any financial losses you’ve incurred as a result of benzene exposure. At the Mass Tort Alliance, our attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and passion to take on big pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson who make dangerous products that harm consumers. Fill out our contact form to review your case, determine what your legal options are, and get matched with a seasoned attorney who can help you seek justice and obtain the compensation you need to recover.