Amended Safety Assessment of Parabens as Used in Cosmetics

Abstract

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of 21 parabens as preservatives in cosmetic products. All of these ingredients are reported to function in cosmetics as preservatives; however, 5 are reported to also function as fragrance ingredients. The Panel reviewed relevant data relating to the safety of these ingredients under the reported conditions of use in cosmetic formulations. The Panel concluded that 20 of the 21 parabens included in this report are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when the sum of the total parabens in any given formulation does not exceed 0.8%. However, the available data are insufficient to support a conclusion of safety for benzylparaben in cosmetics.

Parabens Permeation through Biological Membranes: A Comparative Study Using Franz Cell Diffusion System and Biomimetic Liquid Chromatography

“…Moreover, PBs can affect reproduction by altering fertility and reproductive functions in male rodents after repetitive oral exposure by causing epigenetic hypermethylation of sperm DNA, which may impact transcription regulation and be transmitted to the offspring [21]. Although their acute toxicity is low [22], a gap in knowledge subsists about their health effects after chronic exposure, which currently prevents an accurate risk assessment. This work aimed to explore the passage of seven parabens and their parent compound, pHBA, through the skin, the most prevalent route of human exposure [23], by measuring (a) their permeability using a traditional Franz diffusion cell system and (b) their affinity for membrane phospholipids by immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) liquid chromatography (LC).…”

Developing Eco-Friendly Skin Care Formulations with Microemulsions of Essential Oil

“…The use of BHT in skin care formulations has been criticised and associated with adverse effects such as DNA repair failure, oxidative stress, and pulmonary toxicities [29][30][31]. Although the safety risks of synthetic ingredients such as parabens and BHT remain controversial [32][33][34], the current consumers are increasingly mindful about the ingredients used in skin care products in order to safeguard their own health. Consumers' perception of the safety of synthetic ingredients has triggered skin care manufacturers to search for safer alternatives to replace or reduce these synthetic ingredients in the skin care products.…”

Simple Portable Voltammetric Sensor Using Anodized Screen-Printed Graphene Electrode for the Quantitative Analysis of p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid in Cosmetics

“… 2 , 3 Although the toxicity of PHBA is not found to be acutely toxic, PHBA has an estrogenic activity that stimulates the growth of human breast cancer, and it is also considered the biomarker of gastric cancer. 2 , 4 − 6 At present, natural and organic cosmetic markets are growing. The customers want to know the source of ingredients or material of the products.…”

“…In the PHBA structure, the benzene ring of benzoic acid is substituted by a hydroxy group at C-4. Moreover, PHBA is the hydrolysis product of parabens, which is a popular preservative in cosmetics and foodstuff. , Although the toxicity of PHBA is not found to be acutely toxic, PHBA has an estrogenic activity that stimulates the growth of human breast cancer, and it is also considered the biomarker of gastric cancer. ,− At present, natural and organic cosmetic markets are growing. The customers want to know the source of ingredients or material of the products.…”