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Paraben Preservatives and Cosmetics: Controversy and Alternatives
Author: Kristin Adams
Increasing concern for the safety of ingredients in cosmetics has brought some widely used cosmetic preservatives by the family name ‘paraben’ to center stage. Paraben preservatives are listed under multiple names and are used to preserve the majority of cosmetics on the market today, not only to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi but also to promote the abnormally long shelf-life of products.
As with chemically preserved foods, paraben preserved cosmetics ensure that the cosmetic manufacturer can produce the product en masse and take comfort in a multi-year shelf life. Paraben preservatives have recently come into question with new studies that link the daily exposure of paraben preservatives to breast cancer and endocrine-disruption issues.
What Exactly are Paraben Preservatives?
Parabens are synthetic preservatives that have been in use since the 1920s as “broad-band” preservatives (anti-bacterial and anti-fungal) which means that they work within a formula to prevent the growth of multiple possible contaminants such as bacteria, yeast, mold and fungi. They can be found in approximately 75-90 percent of cosmetics such as make-up, lotion, deodorants and shampoos.
According to ‘A Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients’, water is the only cosmetic ingredient used more frequently than paraben preservatives. (Winter, 2005) Paraben is the family name for the following permutations of the ingredient found on a common product ingredient label:
– Butylparaben
– Ethylparaben
– Methylparaben
– Propylparaben
– Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)
– Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)
– Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)
– Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)
– Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)
– Parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)
– Parahydroxybenzoate (p-hydroxybenzoate)
The Paraben Controversy
Linked to Breast Cancer: Though paraben preservatives only account for a very small percentage of a product’s actual formula they are quite potent. A study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2004 expressed concern regarding the use of paraben preservatives.
In the UK, researchers found traces of it in 19 out of 20 women with breast tumors. (Winter, 2005) Though the studies did not determine if the ingredient was the cause of the breast tumors, it did establish that pervasive use of this synthetic ingredient is biocumulative.
Possible Endocrine Disruptors: Paraben preservatives have also been identified as endocrine disruptors. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating the body’s hormones. Paraben preservatives are believed to mimic the female hormone estrogen when introduced into the body.
According to recent research, more than 60 percent of topically applied chemicals via cosmetics, lotions, etc. are absorbed by the skin and dispersed throughout the body by the bloodstream. Once absorbed into the body, paraben preservatives mimic the hormone estrogen and can disrupt the body’s normal hormonal balance.
In the Archives of Toxicology (2002) , Dr. S. Oishi of the Department of Toxicology, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, Japan, reported “that exposure of newborn male mammals to butylparaben adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.”
This artificial provocation and inflation of estrogen in the endocrine system has been linked to breast cancer in some women as well as the abnormal hormonal development of children including the hormonal “feminization of boys” which may influence the suspected link in decreasing testosterone levels and sperm count in the male reproductive system. It has also been hypothesized to contribute to the early maturation of girls at increasingly younger ages.
Do All Cosmetic Companies Use Paraben Preservatives?
Not all cosmetic companies use paraben preservatives and many are phasing out their use now that enough questions have been raised about their overall long term safety. New cosmetic companies, more focused on offering natural and organic products, have made their “no paraben” policy a platform issue. This means there are a wide variety of paraben-free products which are mostly now available for purchase in health food stores and on the internet.
With the increasing popularity of the natural and organic body care market more companies are jumping on the proverbial “natural” band wagon. With this additional commercial interest and the lack of FDA regulation around the word “natural” one must never rely solely on a company’s marketing and advertising claims and always read the ingredient label to confirm that an ingredient is truly not being used in the formula.
Alternative Preservative Systems
There are good reasons why paraben preservatives are the defacto cosmetic preservative. They are cheap and effective. However, safer and more natural alternatives are available. With formulas that contain certain organic (living) ingredients and/or water as an ingredient, a more aggressive non-paraben preservative must be used to ensure the stability of the formula.
In general, the next best option is a synthetic preservative called Phenoxyethanol which has a synthetic chemical composition inspired by a natural anti-bacterial/anti-microbial chemical found in the sage plant. It’s easier to use a natural preservative in formulas that are basically inert (like most powder mineral cosmetics) or have an oil base and no water (like lipstick or liners). In products such as these, a plant extract or essential oil with anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties such as grapefruit seed extract, grape seed extract or tocopherol (vitamin E) is used as an effective preservative system. In any case, the manufacturer should perform proper stability testing to ensure that the product’s preservative system lasts.
Resources for the Risk Adverse
Much research and observation still needs to be done to ultimately determine the true long term safety and consequences of the wide spread use of paraben preservatives as a daily part of our skin regimen and subsequent absorption diet. The current studies questioning paraben preservatives fundamental safety and the current lack of FDA testing or regulation regarding cosmetics establish a good case for avoiding these questionable ingredients all together.
An excellent resource to determine the overall safety of almost any personal care product is the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Cosmetic Database. This database culls world-wide collective scientific ingredient and cosmetic studies as well as governmental toxicity databases from around the world (examples US, EU, Japan, Korea) and gives a toxicity ranking based on this collective data. The online interface is easy to work with. One simply types in the name of a product/brand or an ingredient and the database will return all the relevant information about that query and its safety. The EWG’s database is a work in progress and is always being refined for further detail and clarity.
Conclusions
More comprehensive studies are needed to conclusively determine the true scope of the damaging effects of prolonged exposure to paraben preservatives by way of the cosmetic ingredients we use every day. A serious effort to reassess the safety of these products must be undertaken by a non-biased group of researchers. To date, among the studies that have been done world-wide, paraben preservatives have been linked to breast cancer and have been labelled as a possible endocrine disruptor that might have specific damaging consequences for young children and those with ongoing exposure.
Luckily, we have more options than ever before and can take ourselves out of the equation entirely by educating ourselves and opting for products that use different preservative systems and fewer questionable ingredients in general.
Sources and works cited:
Antczak, Dr. Stephen and Gina, (2001). Cosmetics Unmasked, Harper Collins, London. Fairley, Josephine, (2001). Organic Beauty, DK Publishing, London. Winter, Ruth M.S. (2005). A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, Three Rivers Press, NY. Cornell University: Parabens: evidence of estrogenicity and endocrine disruption
Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 12, December 2006
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/paraben-preservatives-and-cosmetics-controversy-and-alternatives-171401.html
About the Author
Kristin Adams is Founder and President of Afterglow Cosmetics, a line of natural make-up including mineral cosmetics infused with certified organic ingredients. Discover your natural beauty at www.afterglowcosmetics.com
Tagged with: mineral cosmetics • natural cosmetics • paraben preservatives • parabens
Filed under: Uncategorized
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use the bible its self………its full of fantasy trivia
Are you looking for Plants (DK Visual Dictionaries) (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Plants-DK-Visual-Dictionaries-Publishing/dp/1564580164/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214679302&sr=1-5
Call them directly for find out for sure. 717.264.3281
Screw the roman army, I’d rather be a famous rennaisance artist.
spanish is pretty easy. just tune your tv to a spanish channel and you’ll be able to pick it up, like spanish sesame street.
I would highly recommend the book “Nightwatch” by T. Dickinson. It is very informative in the areas of telescope selection, telescope use, and basic astronomy – but best of all, it has some very useful charts that can easily be seen at night. These will help you to learn the sky, and that’s half the fun of amateur astronomy.
ADDED: It is also full of beautiful and meaningful pictures.
This is a wonderful color coded list of various types of bibliographies. I highly recommend. Even has a place for website!
http://home.comcast.net/~krmcnamara/syllabi/biblio.pdf
Websites are tough, sometimes the name is on the bottom of the homepage, other times its in the contact us section, so I agree with the other person that responded there are ways to avoid that.
ONE IMPORTANT THING! Your bibliography MUST be in alphabetical order!!!!!
First, write your story.
Edit it many times to make it the best it can be. Type it in proper manuscript form (visit http://www.writersdigest.com to find out what is needed). Consider joining a local writer’s group to get feedback from other would-be writers (the more feedback you can get, the better). Get it proofread by someone who knows what they are doing (don’t rely just on spellcheck). Edit your book some more.
There are a tiny number of publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts (those that don’t go through a literary agent), so getting an agent is a really good idea.
At the library or bookstore is Guide to Literary Agents, published by Writer’s Digest, or Bowker’s Literary Marketplace. Look for those agents that specialize in your genre, and are looking for new clients. In those books will be something about writing a query letter, which is what you send to the agent, first. It’s part synopsis of your book, and part explanation as to why your book deserves to be published. You have only that one-page letter to wow the agent, so take the time to make it a good one. Expect the whole process to take lots of time, and expect many rejections. When you are accepted by an agent, they are the ones who will send your book to publishers, not you.
Good luck!
The Horrible Histories series are great (try the books too)
will you help me become the leader of the roman army?
I need help! DK publishing are trying to make the largest online army in the history of the internet. The more people you sign up, the higher you rise in the army. Almost accidentally I rose to 3rd in command.
I have suddenly developed an obssession with becoming the ultimate leader of the world – perhaps being a new mum and having a vomiting baby covering me with sick every five minutes has something to do with it!
I need some escape from vomit land! Much as I love my little boy, singing ‘Shake your booty, baby’ 300 times a day has begun to wear a little and I need something else in my life!
I am Jackred in the army – you can look me up.
I’m looking for brave recruits who are willing to share their email address with me so I can invite them to join the army. You won’t get any spam, and it only takes 2 mins to join and nothing else is involved.
Contact me at untappedatom1@yahoo.co.uk with your email and I will recruit you (and love you forever) 🙂
where can I get a bible trivia game by DK publishing ?
Its out of print ( I think )
I need ideas of good educational magazines for children aged about 10.?
My son recently had the Aquilla magazine, and the DK findout! magazine. DK Findout is now not being published. Please can you give me ideas of good educational magazines (NOT ONLINE) that I can buy.
UK titles only please.
What would you recommend for an amateur astronomer?
I have already got the following books and things but there are lots of things thati simply dont understand about astronomy in general. Im always on the lookout for really great books and dvd’s with tons of info and beautiful pictures. What would you recommend?
Starry Night CSAP (Software)
Astronomica (Book)
Earth (Book; DK Publishing)
Universe (Book; DK Publishing)
Cosmos -Giles Sparrow (Book)
Astronomy (Magazine)
The Universe: Season One (History Channel DVD)
The Planets (A&E DVD)
Solarmax (DVD)
Carl Sagan’s ‘Cosmos’ (DVD)
In The Shadow Of The Moon (DVD)
From The Earth To The Moon (DVD)
nothing really specific that i want to learn. i just want to be able to understand what i see when i look up at the night sky instead of just mumbling “wow…pretty”
I’m trying to learn spanish(:?
I’m 12, and know no more spanish than most kids my age do. My mom bought this spanish learning kit:http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Spanish/DK-Publishing/e/9780756620707/?itm=10 about a year or so ago. I need tips on how to use it..Thanks(:
How to get a book published?
My bff us a really great writer. But we dk how to get her book published!?
did i write my bibliography right?
Peterson, David. The Pacific Ocean. United States of America: Childrens Press, 2001
Jablonsky, Alice. Ocean Life. Linclewood, Illinois: Publications International, 2003
Scott, David. Exploring Japan. United States: Fodor’s Travel Publications, 2003
Hayashi, Mayumi. Japan. New York, New York: DK Publishing, 2007
I underlined all the titles, it just wont show up! lol!
and another thing, im confused about bibliographies for websites.. how do you find the name of the person who wrote it??
thanks!!!!!
Can I Buy This Book At Waldenbooks?
I am looking for Hannah Montana:The Essential Guide.It’s under DK Publishing,and I am going to be in the area of Chambersburg,PA tomorrow.So I need an answer quick!Thanks!
MLA citation question?
I lost my MLA handbook, so I need some help writing a works cited page for a research project. I want to cite Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. Obviously I don’t have the original edition, rather a new edition by DK Classics published in 2008. How do I cite it to make it clear that the first edition was published in London 1818 but I used the DK edition?
Looking for a book title “Plants” by DK Publishing.?
Looking specifically for “California Peony” image by Charles E. Jones. I’m looking to buy the book, but B&N can’t find it without a specific book title.