Parabens

Todays Chemical:

Parabens (methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, benzylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben)

What is it:

Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in lotions, conditioners, shampoos, shower gels, deodorants, etc. 

Why are they a risk:

Since 2000, thirteen studies have shown that parabens display estrogenic activity.
Other studies have also shown that parabens have accumulated in breast cancer tissue. Although paraben supporters claim that the body breaks the chemical down quickly, these studies show that complete parabens accumulated in the tumors, not being broken down at all. It has been proven that excess estrogen does lead to reproductive cancers (like breast and uterine cancer), and it has been proven that parabens act like estrogen and accumulate in the body. The dots haven’t been officially connected by the FDA, but the case for parabens looks pretty grim. The European Journal of Cancer Prevention reported that “Frequency and earlier onset of antiperspirant/deodorant usage with underarm shaving were associated with an earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis.” It is possible that the parabens (and other chemicals) in the antiperspirant are to blame for this.

What type of products is it found in:

Anything water-based formula--conditioner, shampoo, body washes, lotions, hair creams, makeups.

Brands that use this ingredient:

Biore

Desert Essence

Peter Thomas

Derma Pro

Revlon

Estee Lauder

For a full list, click here: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?containing=703937

Steph's Opinion:

Over the last few years the EWG hazard score of this ingredient has crept from a 4 to an 8.  It seems like the evidence keeps piling up against parabens.  The good news is that a lot of companies are reformulating their products without parabens because the word is getting out.  The bad news is, though, that they're just replacing parabens with other harmful preservatives like diazolidinyl urea and tetrasodium EDTA. 

Sources:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Parabens and Breast Cancer, www.breastcancerfund.org

McGrath KG (2003). An earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis related to more frequent use of antiperspirants/deodorants and underarm shaving. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 12:479-485.

Comments

[Chloee]

Plants which produce significant amounts of parabens include carrots, olive, cucumber, honeysuckle and ylang ylang (Bach M et al, Plant Physiol, 103(2), 1993); (Aziz N et al, Microbios 93(374), 1998); Smith-Becker J et al, Plant Physiol, 116(1), 1998); (Dweck A, “Natural Preservatives”, Cosmet Toilet, Aug 2003).

Plants known to synthesise Methylparaben include Guan pepper (Piper guanacastensis) (Pereda-Miranda R et al, J Nat Prod, 60(3), 1997); Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) (Walker T et al, J Agric Food Chem, 51, 2548, 2003) and Oca (Oxalis tuberosa) (Pal Bais H et al, Plant Physiol Biochem, 41(4), 2003).

Mangoes produce Propylparaben as a self defense mechanism (Mangifera indica) (Chirawut B, Sangchote S, 15 th Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference, Deakin University, Geelong, 26-29 September, 2005).

In fact, parabens have been used as preservatives in foods and beverages and exhibit little or no toxicity in the concentrations used. The cancerous breast tissues that had parabens were probably caused by preserved food rather than underarm deodorants!

If you want to blame excess estrogen for causing breast cancer, look no further than soy beans (Sob M, Naturally Occurring Estrogens, in CRC Handbook of Naturally Occurring Food Toxicants, Miloslav R (Ed), CRC Press, 1983); (Davis D & Bradlow H, Sci Amer, Oct 1995); (Davis D et al, Nature Sci Med, May/June 1997); (Zava D et al, Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 217(3), 1998).

Soy beans contain the natural endocrine disrupter genistein and stimulates the activity of estrogen receptors at considerably lower concentrations (100x) than synthetic hormones (Bernhoft A, Endocrine Disrupters - Synthetic Chemical Contaminants and Natural Compounds in the Diet, Lecture, Norwegian Acad Sci Letters, 1997).

Most phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) show some beneficial effects on estrogen-dependent disease. However, these can also promote tumor growth (Hilakivi-Clarke L et al, Oncol Rep, 6(5), 1999); (Newbold R et al, Cancer Res, 61(11), 2001).

Asians who consume soy products do so with fermented or soaked soy beans (which reduces the levels of toxins) before consumption. Many Western soya products are not made this way - so the toxins remain.

Hence, the reason behind higher rates of breast cancer could be attributed to soy, or improved cancer screening equipment, or pollution, lack of vitamin D (sunlight), or lifestyle factors of the individual (such as smoking). Eating enough preserved food stuffs will probably result in residue traces of parabens. This does not mean parabens have caused the disease.