ISOBUTYLPARABEN
Preservative
Also listed as
BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER; 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER; ISOBUTYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE; ISOBUTYL PARAHYDROXYBENZOATE; PARAHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, ISOBUTYL ESTER; 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-; 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID; ISOBUTYL ESTER PARAHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID; 4-HYDROXY- 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID; BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, 2METHYLPROPYL ESTER; ISOBUTYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Violations, restrictions & warnings |
 | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Data gaps |
|
See products containing ISOBUTYLPARABEN | |
About ISOBUTYLPARABEN: Isobutylparaben is the ester of isobutyl alcohol and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. It conforms to theformula:
ISOBUTYLPARABEN has reported used in the following product types: facial moisturizer/treatment (517); anti-aging (320); moisturizer (307); foundation (197); mascara (171); lip gloss (167); eye shadow (162); lipstick (152); sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (150); sunscreen: makeup (147)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | CIR |
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine disruption at moderate doses | RTECS®- Journal of Applied Toxicology (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2003 | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | Harvell, J, 1994 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 10 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | ISOBUTYLPARABEN | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Determined safe for use in cosmetics based on concentrations of surrogate, related chemical in cosmetics, by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) • •Safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) is based on safety or product use data for a different, related ingredient •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| CIR | ISOBUTYLPARABEN | •Skin sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| Byford JR, Shaw LE, Drew MG, Pope GS, Sauer MJ, Darbre PD, 2002 | PARABENS | •Hormonally active (parabens) |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | PARABENS | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 1960 | ISOBUTYLPARABEN | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology 2002 | ISOBUTYLPARABEN | • endocrine system - Changes in uterine weight (mouse TDLo) • endocrine system - Estrogenic (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Applied Toxicology (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2003 | ISOBUTYLPARABEN | • endocrine system - Changes in uterine weight (mouse TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| EWG Assessment of Open Scientific Literature | CIR |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EWG Assessment of Open Scientific Literature | Byford JR, Shaw LE, Drew MG, Pope GS, Sauer MJ, Darbre PD. Oestrogenic activity of parabens in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 Jan;80(1):49-60. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Harvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria). |
| RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 1960 | RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie. (Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium) V.4- 1898- 128,135,1960 |
| RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology 2002 | RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology. (John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Baffins Lane, Chichester, W. Sussex PO19 1UD, UK) V.1- 1981- 22,219,2002 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Applied Toxicology (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2003 | RTECS®- Journal of Applied Toxicology (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Oldlands Way Bognor Regis West Sussex, PO22 9SA England) V.1- 1981- 23,285,2003 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 by Environmental Working Group
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