It is becoming increasingly common to see products advertised and labeled as “paraben free.”While some people pick up these products feeling good that they are using a cleaner product than the paraben-containing alternative, others do not not see why they should stop purchasing the products they know and love. Parabens are not considered “approved.” They fall under the category of compounds “generally recognized as safe” becoming exempt from the testing requirements of the FDA (Dodge et al). This has not prevented tests from being done entirely, but parabens are being widely used without thorough testing of safety or adverse reactions. The issue lies in the rumors that parabens can cause hormonal disruption and cancer. Are such rumors true,or is the selling and purchasing of paraben free products a useless trend? Perhaps if parabens were tested thoroughly to begin with, there would not be so much worry about potential health effects to the point where products are being made completely paraben free. Nonetheless, it is important that we look at the evidence to decide for ourselves whether there is a need to opt for paraben free products.

What Are Parabens?

Parabens are man made chemicals used as preservatives in products, providing a longer shelf life and preventing the growth of yeast, mold, and bad bacteria. More specifically, parabens are alkylesters derived from a chemical called para-hydroxybenzoic acid or PHBA. The most commonparabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, and benzylparaben (Golden et al). Both the CDC and FDA allow for low amounts of parabens to be used in products due to low amounts proving to be safe (“Parabens Factsheet”).

Products That Contain Parabens

Parabens can be found in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, as well as personal care products.Among cosmetics and personal care products alone, some products that parabens can be found in are toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, soap, deodorant, lotion, makeup, and sunscreen. Foods that contain parabens to preserve them are typically packaged foods. Some of these include pancake syrup, yogurt, muffins, and even drinks such as iced tea and red wine. Well known brands like Sara Lee and Betty Crocker sell food products containing parabens as well.Even some packaged food items provided by the very successful weight loss program, Weight Watchers, contain parabens as preservatives (Garcia-Toledo). Often labeled as inactive ingredients, parabens are found in pharmaceuticals, both tablet form and oral solutions. As reported by a study on paraben exposure from medications, medications are a significant contribution to human paraben exposure (Dodge et al). Due to the fact that parabens are found in so many products, the amount of parabens consumed and absorbed by people each and every day adds up. There are limits in place when it comes to the percentage of parabens used in products. So the fact that people are taking in these parabens in amounts much greater than the safe percentage is reason for concern.

Health Effects Of Parabens

The accumulation of parabens in the human body is proven by the studies that show large levels of parabens in urine. Now according to the CDC, high levels of parabens found in urine should not result in any adverse effects on the body. Similarly, when a case controlled study involving subjects of multiple different ethnicities was conducted on parabens in relation to endometrial cancer risk, no link was found (Sarink et al). Although both of these sources share the same stance that there is no link between high levels of parabens in urine and adverse side effects, a study testing urinary paraben concentrations and ovarian aging proved otherwise. The study was done on women at a fertility clinic, and an association between propylparaben and diminished ovarian reserve contributing to ovarian aging was found (Smith et al). Women who deal with infertility are sensitive to endocrine disrupting chemicals by and large. So, this category of people should be mindful of how much parabens they expose themselves to. Further research continues to prove that parabens have adverse effects within the human body. In a study published by Dr. Philippa Darbre, parabens were found in the breast tumors of 19 out of the 20 women participants (Darbre et al). Although it cannot be inferred that parabens are the cause of cancerous tumors, based on this finding, it is evident that parabens are not quickly excreted out of the body. They remain deeper within the body. In addition, high levels of paraben concentration in the body are associated with a change in triglyceride levels. When triglyceride levels fluctuate, it can impact cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as thyroid and immune function (Kimszal). Given all this evidence, it is clear that some sort of disruption occurs in the human body as a result of using parabens in high amounts. Such disruption can lead to further illness. Furthermore, with parabens having antibacterial properties, when applied on the skin the amount of healthy bacteria naturally found on the skin can be reduced. As a result, some people may develop skin irritation and rashes. There remains some undisputed adverse effects of parabens which are that they disrupt the endocrine system and harm the reproductive organs.

Why Do Companies Continue To Use Parabens In Their Products?

If there are clear negative health effects resulting from parabens, and certain products can be made without the use of parabens, it raises curiosity as to why companies still decide to use parabens in their products. According to Sandra Arévalo, the director of nutrition services and community outreach at Community Pediatrics at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, “Parabens are widely used because they are extremely effective [and] hypoallergenic and cost very little to produce” (Ross). There are a lot of people who still drink soda despite being aware of the proven negative effects it has on the body. Similarly, people will continue to purchase the products that contain parabens, and companies are aware of that. Companies use this to their advantage and continue to make and sell products with parabens despite all the proven adverse effects.

Is Using Paraben Free Products Necessary?

As it is unlikely that companies will halt the use of parabens in their products, the products we use everyday, consumers should make the decision to cut back on the use of paraben-containing products where they can. As previously mentioned, women who struggle with infertility are more sensitive to parabens and therefore they should especially opt for paraben free products. Those who have chronic skin dryness may have their paraben filled lotion and/or soap to blame. Opting for paraben free formulated products may be worth doing. People with other illnesses or sensitivities may want to refrain from products that have parabens listed in the ingredients and opt for paraben free products as well. Given how many products contain parabens, it may seem nearly impossible to completely avoid parabens. Getting rid of all paraben containing products you own and completely avoiding purchasing paraben containing products is not necessary. However,avoiding excessive amounts of paraben consumption and absorption may aid in decreasing the risk of illness and medical complications such as infertility. Fortunately, a lot of companies within different sectors have paraben free products available for purchase.

How Difficult Is It To Buy More Paraben Free Products?

When it comes to cosmetics and beauty products, paraben free products are widely available both on the internet and in stores. There are a plethora of small businesses with the main purpose of providing people with clean cosmetics that sell paraben free products. Katie Kimball of Kitchen Stewardship suggests purchasing from smaller businesses who produce paraben free items such as handmade soaps, and natural body products. Now some necessary pharmaceuticals contain parabens and cannot be avoided for medical reasons. Nevertheless, if one avoids the use of parabens in their cosmetics, food, and personal care products, they would prevent the high level of accumulation of parabens in their body. As for food, limiting or completely eliminating paraben-containing packaged foods would not only aid in the prevention of paraben accumulation, but it would probably result in you eating a healthier diet.

Works Cited

Darbre, P. D., et al. “Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumours.” Journal of Applied Toxicology, vol. 24, no. 1, 2004, pp. 5–13., https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.958.

Dodge, Laura E., et al. “Medications as a Source of Paraben Exposure.” Reproductive Toxicology, vol. 52, 2015, pp. 93–100., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.02.002.

Garcia-Toledo, Aida. “Are You Eating Parabens? Hidden Sources of Parabens – Non-Toxic Munchkin.” Non, Non-Toxic Munchkin, 20 Sept. 2021, https://www.nontoxicmunchkin.com/blog/are-you-eating-parabens.

Golden, Robert, et al. “A Review of the Endocrine Activity of Parabens and Implications for Potential Risks to Human Health.” Critical Reviews in Toxicology, vol. 35, no. 5, 2005, pp. 435–458., https://doi.org/10.1080/10408440490920104.

Jeanette Kimszal, RDN. “What’s the Deal with Parabens?” Verywell Health, 11 Oct. 2021, https://www.verywellhealth.com/are-parabens-bad-for-you-5204132. 

Kimball , Katie. “How to Go Paraben Free – and What to Use Instead.” Kitchen Stewardship | Caring for All Our Gifts, 17 July 2020, https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/get-parabens-out/.

Lincho, João, et al. “Paraben Compounds—Part I: An Overview of Their Characteristics, Detection, and Impacts.” Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 5, 2021, p. 2307., https://doi.org/10.3390/app11052307. 

“Parabens Factsheet.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Apr. 2017, https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Parabens_FactSheet.html.

Ross, Rachel. “What Are Parabens?” LiveScience, Purch, 26 Feb. 2019, https://www.livescience.com/64862-what-are-parabens.html.

Sarink, Danja, et al. “BPA, Parabens, and Phthalates in Relation to Endometrial Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study Nested in the Multiethnic Cohort.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 129, no. 5, May 2021, p. 57702. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A664621933/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=5dcbbdce. Accessed 12 Oct. 2021.

Smith, Kristen W., et al. “Urinary Paraben Concentrations and Ovarian Aging among Women from a Fertility Center.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 121, no. 11-12, 2013, pp. 1299–1305., https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1205350.