Cosmetics: This heavily debated chemical is endocrine disrupting in humans

Butylparaben is endocrine disrupting in humans

The member states of the EU have unanimously agreed that Butylparaben is endocrine disrupting in humans. The decision is based on comprehensive studies from the DTU Food and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

Before summer Butylparaben was added to the ECHA candidate list because of the endocrine disturbing properties, which is unusual for a chemical allowed in cosmetics.

The ECHA candidate list is a list of chemicals, which the EU has deemed unwanted and wants to see phased out over time because of their negative effects on health and environment.

The chemicals is still allowed in your cosmetics

Despite being labeled as an endocrine disrupter Butylparaben is still allowed in cosmetics.

A single product will probably not pose a risk to your health, but the exposure from one product will contribute to your total exposure of endocrine disrupters and thereby contribute to the cocktail effect of unwanted substances that you are exposed to in your everyday life.

In the end, this could be problematic in relation to endocrine disruption.

The Danish Consumer Council has been working for a ban for years

The Danish Consumer Council has been working for a ban on the use of Butylparaben in consumer goods since the beginning of this century.

In many tests and through campaigns the council has tried to raise awareness among consumers and also suggested alternative products without Butylparaben.

Butylparaben is still used in cosmetic brands today despite the heated debate throughout the last couple of decades. The use has however diminished over the years.

The Danish app Kemiluppen finds more than 100 products with Butylparaben

The Danish app Kemiluppen contains data of the ingredients in almost 13,000 cosmetic products on the Danish market.

In the database of the Kemiluppen Butylparaben is found in more than 100 products.

Be aware of powder, foundation and mascara, where the substance can be used as a preservative.

Will the cosmetic industry phase out Butylparaben?

The endocrine disrupter label and the inclusion on the EU candidate list will have consequences for the future use of Butylparaben.

The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals has asked the companies behind the brands still using Butylparaben whether they will phase out the use of the substance.

The answers point in different directions. Several brands have already phased out Butylparaben in their newest editions of their products, or they will phase out the substance in the future.

Other brands have not answered and a few say that the use of Butylparaben is legal and safe and therefore they will continue using the substance.

Her are the answers from the companies

The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals has asked 17 brand owners, covering 26 brands, whether they will stop using Butylparaben:

• Clinique: YES, the substance is not used in the newest products
• Galderma Nordic AB: YES
• Normal A/S / W7 / Creightons / Cuticura / Derma V10 / Elina: YES
• LVMH / Benefit: YES, all parabens will be phased out
• Unilever / Dove: YES, the substance is not used in the newest products
• net-shopping.dk / Pjur: YES, will not order new products with Butylparaben
• Evoluderm: YES, all parabens will be phased out
• Reckitt Benckiser Group: UNSURE, but is not ruled out
• Saether / Shiseido: NO, the use of Butylparaben is still legal
• Procter & Gamble / Aussie: NO, the use of Butylparaben is safe
• Bondi Sands: NO, will not phase out
• L'Oreal / Garnier /Kiehl's /Maybelline / Biotherm: Refers to the statement of the Danish Association of Cosmetics and Detergents. See below.
• Redken: No answer
• Miaray: No answer
• Xpel marketing / Argan: No answer
• The Body Shop: No answer
• Saether / Rimmel: No answer

Parabens: Debated substances used in hundreds of products

Other chemicals in the paraben family have been in the spotlight because of research showing, that they were endocrine disrupters in animal studies.

Already some parabens have been banned in cosmetics. Isopropylparaben and Isobutylparaben is no longer allowed in your lotion or creme.

However, other parabens such as Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben and of course Butylparaben are still allowed.

 In the database of the app Kemiluppen it is evident that:

• Methylparaben is used in more than 750 products
• Propylparaben is used in more than 400 products
• Ethylparaben is used in more than products 200 products
• And again Butylparaben is used in more than 100 products

Studies: Parabens can mimic the female sex hormone

Studies of parabens in both cell and animal studies have shown that they can mimic the female sex hormone (estrogen effect).

For some parabens studies also show that they can inhibit the male sex hormone (antiandrogen effect).

4 tips if you want to reduce your exposure to parabens:

• Get the app Kemiluppen (available in Denmark only). With the app you can check the ingredients in your personal care products and see if they contain substances that are, or are suspected of being, endocrine disrupters. This includes the parabens.
• Look for cosmetic products with the Nordic ecolabel, the Swan. Parabens and other suspected endocrines disrupters are banned in Swan label product.
• Keep an eye on the ingredient list and see if some of the substance end in -paraben. The most important parabens to avoid is Butylparaben and Propylparaben.
• Beaware of food containing E214, E215, E218 og E219. They can also belabelled as ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoat or methyl-p-hydroxybenzoat. According to the Danish food authorities parabens are only allowed incandy and snacks such as chipsandnuts and in some meat products.