Sen. Charles Schumer is putting heat on the Food and Drug Administration to warn the public about potentially dangerous sunscreens.

A chemical commonly found in the products has been linked to skin cancer, he said yesterday.

“Summer is here, people are soaking up the sun and the FDA needs to immediately provide guidance and reassurance to consumers,” Schumer said.

The ingredient, retinyl palmitate, is found in most popular sunscreens.

Tumors and lesions developed up to 21 percent faster in lab animals coated in retinyl palmitate-heavy creams than in those treated with creams without it, the National Center for Toxicological Research found.

The research was completed last July, and the FDA has been studying the issue since then without taking action, Schumer said.