Parabens are preservatives that are commonly used in cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals. Hair-care products, moisturizers, sunscreens and makeup frequently contain parabens, as do cereals, confections, chips and nuts. Parabens have been under intense scrutiny this past decade, as studies have shown a possible link to breast cancer. Just how much do we need to watch out for these chemical compounds, and just how accurate are the findings?
FDA Classification
The FDA has categorized parabens as GRAS, or "Generally Regarded As Safe," for use in food, cosmetics and drugs. Parabens have also been evaluated by the European Commission and deemed safe preservatives to use in cosmetics.
Parabens and Breast Cancer
The most notable study researching the link between parabens and breast cancer was published in 2004 in the "Journal of Applied Toxicology." Researchers Philip W. Harvey and Phillipa Darbre discovered parabens in 18 of 20 samples of human breast tumor tissue. The alarm was sounded, as the study pointed to the estrogenic properties of parabens. The female sex endocrine hormone estrogen has been associated with breast-cancer risk. Parabens tend to mimic the behavior of estrogen, leading researchers to point out a possible link between parabens and cancer.
According to both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, the 2004 study left out key elements. Normal breast tissue was never examined, posing the question, how do we know parabens aren't also found in normal tissue throughout the body? The study is also found to be inconclusive because while it cited the possibility of parabens in the tissues of the tumors originating from deodorant and antiperspirant use, research was unable to prove that link.
The Paraben-Estrogen Connection
While parabens do display tendencies similar to those of estrogen, so do the phytoestrogens that naturally occur in fruits and vegetables such as soy. Phytoestrogens are 10,000 times stronger than parabens, whereas estrogen that occurs naturally in the body is 100,000 times as powerful as parabens.
Paraben estrogenic activity has been analyzed in female mice, which are given doses of parabens that far exceed the amount of those found in food and cosmetics. According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, parabens in cosmetics at concentrations of no more than 25 percent are safe. Regular levels of parabens are likely to fall between 0.01 percent and 0.3 percent.
Scientific Approval of Parabens
While the jury is still out---and the ACS and NCI agree that more research needs to be conducted---the majority of scientists agree that the low rate of estrogenic activity that parabens display, coupled with the small percentage of parabens found in cosmetics, drugs and food, ensure that parabens are safe. An analysis of the estrogenic properties of parabens published in "Critical Reviews in Toxicology" in 2005 proclaimed that the possibility of parabens increasing the risk of breast cancer was improbable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review, or CIR, first determined paraben use safe in cosmetics in 1984. CIR completed an additional assessment of parabens in 2005 based on additional findings and research, such as the 2004 study linking parabens to breast cancer. The CIR stands by its original assessment, maintaining the safety of paraben use.
How To Identify Parabens
If you are concerned about parabens in your food or cosmetics, be sure to scan the ingredient list. Methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl and isobutylparaben are commonly occurring paraben ingredients.
