Athlete’s Foot Spray Recall: Tinactin and Lotrimin Recalled by FDA After Discovery of Cancer-Causing Chemical Benzene; What You Need to Know

The FDA has set the guideline value for benzene to be 0.02 mg per day, a number they arrived at after reviewing human leukemia data and exposure concentrations of benzene.

Parent company Bayer said that there had been no reports of adverse side effects at this time. The levels of benzene detected in the products are not expected to cause negative health consequences in consumers, added the company.

This recall may impact consumers and wholesalers who have the following products:

• Lotrimin® Anti-Fungal (AF) Athlete’s Foot Powder SprayLotrimin® Anti-Fungal Jock Itch (AFJI) Athlete’s Foot Powder Spray
• Lotrimin® Anti-Fungal (AF) Athlete's Foot Deodorant Powder Spray
• Lotrimin® AF Athlete’s Foot Liquid Spray
• Lotrimin® AF Athlete's Foot Daily Prevention Deodorant Powder Spray
• Tinactin® Jock Itch (JI) Powder Spray
• Tinactin® Athlete's Foot Deodorant Powder Spray
• Tinactin® Athlete's Foot Powder Spray
• Tinactin® Athlete's Foot Liquid Spray

The recall only applies to products with a distribution date after September 2018 with the lot numbers TN, CV, or NAA.

Studies have linked heightened levels of benzene to leukemia and other hematologic (blood) cancers. The carcinogen can be absorbed through the skin in liquid form, ingested, or inhaled as its vapor lingers in the air.

FDA spokesperson Jeremy Kahn tells SurvivorNet that detecting the source of benzene can often prove to be a challenge, citing the recent wave of sunscreens that tested positive for the carcinogen.

“The root cause of the benzene found in recalled sunscreen products is the focus of an ongoing investigation,” he explains.

As such, the agency continues to monitor sunscreen manufacturing to try and get more answers and ensure that US consumers have “safe sunscreens.”

The FDA would not comment on any similarities between the current products being recalled and those sunscreens taken off the market over the summer, but they are all aerosol products.

Dr. Emily Nachtigal, a UCLA-Olive View hematology-oncology fellow, tells SurvivorNet that the level of benzene likely does not matter to most people, though in both the sunscreens recalled over the summer and this current recall, the levels presented in the products have no known threat or immediate danger.

“To the public, a carcinogen is a carcinogen; people don’t want to use a product that could potentially lead to cancer,” she points out.

How To Request A Tinactin or Lotrimin Refund

Consumers may request a refund by contacting Bayer with questions by calling 1-866-360-3266, Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET.

A photo of the product will be required to receive a refund, and Bayer is advising consumers to discard the spray after they have submitted a photo and completed the refund process.

Consumers should stop the use of these products immediately and contact a physician should they experience adverse effects.

There is no recall of any other Lotrimin or Tinactin product beyond the sprays noted above.

Benzene

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, benzene is one of five known human carcinogens, including beryllium, asbestos, vinyl chloride, and arsenic.

It is a liquid chemical most often used as a solvent in chemical and pharmaceutical products. It is also a natural byproduct found in gasoline emissions, secondhand cigarette smoke, and forest fires.

Multiple studies dating back to 1897 have found individuals exposed to high levels of benzene particularly employees at chemical plants and oil refineries were more likely to be diagnosed with leukemia.

Similar studies also determined that these individuals had an increased risk of being diagnosed with other forms of hematologic cancers, such as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Most people are exposed to low levels of benzene through the air, inhaling the chemical as it slowly evaporates in the air. That is why cigarette smokers have benzene levels that are higher than the general public.

Despite these known risks, benzene is among the top 20 chemicals used in the US based on production volume.

People who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Death (at very high levels)

Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:

• Vomiting
• Irritation of the stomach
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Convulsions
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Death (at very high levels)

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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