What are parabens

Parabens are a group of chemicals used as artificial preservatives in a wide range of cosmetics, foods, drugs and personal health care products.

Scientific studies suggest that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body, harm fertility and reproductive organs, affect birth outcomes, and increase the risk of cancer.

There are several types of parabens. The most common (and most harmful) include:

• Propylparaben
• Isopropylparaben
• Butylparaben
• Isobutylparaben

Parabens' health effects

Parabens are endocrine-disrupting synthetic estrogens. That means that parabens can disrupt the normal function of our hormone system as the body can confuse the parabens with naturally occurring estrogen. That way parabens have the potential to affect the reproductive systems of both men and women including reproductive development, fertility and birth outcomes.

In addition, research has found that low doses of butylparaben in combination with other chemicals can increase the growth of breast cancer cells. This is known as the (chemical) cocktail effect. In the real world we are exposed to a large number of chemicals not

Here are a few “highlights” of parabens' health effects documented by the Environmental Working Group. Parabens can:

• Interfere with the production of hormones.
• Disrupt hormone signals
• Decrease male sperm counts
• Lower male testosterone levels
• Decrease female fertility
• Affect the menstrual cycle
• Increase risk of early birth
• Decrease birth weight
• Harm reproductive systems of both women and men.
• Alter the expression of genes
• Accelerate the growth of breast cancer cells.
• https://www.ewg.org/californiacosmetics/parabens

Parabens widely used in cosmetics and personal care products

Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in a wide range of cosmetics, foods, drugs and personal health care products.

We rub parabens into our body

Before we become adults, we rub about 2,000 liters of chemical-based lotions, shampoos, cosmetics and body products onto our skin.

Adolescent girls wearing makeup daily had 20 times more propylparaben in their urine than girls never or rarely wearing makeup.

Parabens in the human body

Parabens have been detected in nearly all urine samples taken from adults in the US. Parabens have also been detected in pregnant women as well as infants. Parabens must be broken down by the liver, or they will be stored in our bodies. Parabens are fat-loving chemicals, so they build up in our fatty tissues.

To conclude on parabens:

“Given the endocrine disruption capacity and documented female and male reproductive harm, coupled with the potential for repeated lifelong exposure, it is clear that long-chain parabens (isobutyl-, butyl-, isopropyl- and propylparaben) should not be used in personal care or cosmetic products. Further, products can be made without these chemicals”.

- The Environmental Working Group

Shop paraben-free!

Be aware of parabens in the things you buy: Cosmetics, shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gels, toothpaste, and other personal care products - and even painkillers and candy. Paraben-free products in all categories are widely available.