METHYLPARABEN
Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative
METHYLPARABEN may be an impurity the following product types:
facial moisturizer/treatment (129)
moisturizer (126)
facial cleanser (64)
shampoo (55)
conditioner (53)
anti-aging (46)
body wash/cleanser (41)
hand cream (40)
toners/astringents (36)
exfoliant/scrub (32)
bar soap (30)
bath oil/salts/soak (27)
body spray (22)
around-eye cream (22)
mask (21)
Also listed as
BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER; P-CARBOMRYHOXYPHENOL; 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, METHYL ESTER; P-METHOXYCARBONYLPHENOL; METHYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE; METHYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE; METHYL PARAHYDROXYBENZOATE; BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER, POTASSIUM SALT; 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, METHYL ESTER, POTASSIUM SALT; METHYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE POTASSIUM SALT; METHYLPARABEN, POTASSIUM SALT
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 |
| Restrictions & warnings |
 | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps |
|
See products containing METHYLPARABEN See ingredients that may have METHYLPARABEN as an impurity See products that may have METHYLPARABEN as an impurity | |
About METHYLPARABEN: Methylparaben is the ester of methyl alcohol and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. It conforms to theformula:
METHYLPARABEN has reported used in the following product types: facial moisturizer/treatment (969); foundation (800); moisturizer (737); eye shadow (713); anti-aging (660); mascara (556); hair color and bleaching (500); facial cleanser (452); conditioner (383); facial powder (342)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | Nagel JE, Fuscaldo JT, Fireman P, 1977 | |
| show more | ||
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human endocrine disruptor - strong evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 | |
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effects at moderate doses | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1956 | |
| show more | ||
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Interferes with gene expresion | Pugazhendhi D, Sadler AJ, Darbre PD, 2007 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 176 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | METHYLPARABEN | • Food additive: chemical preservative • GRAS/ Food additive: permitted as optional ingredient in a standardized food - CFR184.1490 • less than 0.1% by weight - refers to part number under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 150 • Art Sw Jelly (150.141) and Preserves (150.161) • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • ZERO - Res in milk from dairy cows treated with mastitis formulations -556.390 • Use and Info - CFR526.820 |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | METHYLPARABEN | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | METHYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Nagel JE, Fuscaldo JT, Fireman P, 1977 | METHYLPARABEN | •Skin sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Routledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, Ashby J, Sumpter JP, 1998 | METHYLPARABEN | Methylparaben produced a positive uterotrophic response in vivo, approximately 100,000 times less potent than 17 beta-estradiol. |
| Pugazhendhi D, Sadler AJ, Darbre PD, 2007 | METHYLPARABEN | The study identified genes which are upregulated or downregulated to a similar extent by methylparaben, n-butylparaben and 17beta-oestradiol. |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | PARABENS | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | METHYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE | •Evidence of endocrine disrupting activity in at least one species using intact animals, high human health concern. •No evidence of endocrine disrupting activity or no data available. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| Byford JR, Shaw LE, Drew MG, Pope GS, Sauer MJ, Darbre PD, 2002 | PARABENS | •Hormonally active (parabens) |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | PARABENS | Parabens listed as one of the agents capable of causing contact urticaria by immunological pathogenetic mechanism. |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1978 | METHYLPARABEN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1978 | METHYLPARABEN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 1974 | METHYLPARABEN | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (guinea pig LD50) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 | METHYLPARABEN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 | METHYLPARABEN | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Ataxia (mouse TDLo) • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Flaccid paralysis with appropriate anesthesia (mouse TDLo) • blood - Other changes (rat TDLo) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) • skin - Primary irritation (guinea pig TDLo) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) • respiratory - Respiratory depression (mouse TDLo) • cardiovascular - Shock (mouse TDLo) • respiratory - Tumors (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1956 | METHYLPARABEN | • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Ataxia (mouse LD50) • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Flaccid paralysis without anesthesia (usually neuromuscular blockage) (mouse LD50) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | METHYLPARABEN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | METHYLPARABEN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| EWG Assessment of Open Scientific Literature | Nagel JE, Fuscaldo JT, Fireman P. Paraben allergy. JAMA. 1977, Apr 11; 237(15):1594-5. |
| Open scientific literature | Routledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, Ashby J, Sumpter JP, 1998. "Some alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (parabens) are estrogenic.," Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1998 Nov;153(1):12-9. |
| Open scientific literature | Pugazhendhi D, Sadler AJ, Darbre PD, 2007. "Comparison of the global gene expression profiles produced by methylparaben, n-butylparaben and 17beta-oestradiol in MCF7 human breast cancer cells," J Appl Toxicol. 2007 Jan-Feb;27(1):67-77. |
| 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). |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| 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. |
| Open scientific literature | 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®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1978 | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku. Bulletin of the Institute of Hygienic Sciences. (Kokuritsu Eisei Shikenjo Kagaku, 18-1 Bushitsu Johobu, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan) V.1- 1886- (96),55,1978 |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1978 | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku. Bulletin of the Institute of Hygienic Sciences. (Kokuritsu Eisei Shikenjo Kagaku, 18-1 Bushitsu Johobu, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan) V.1- (96),55,1978 |
| RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 1974 | RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series. (Rome, Italy) No.?-57, 1948-77. Discontinued. 53A,81,1974 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 40,1335,2002 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 1982- 40,1335,2002 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1956 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 45,260,1956 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 66,277,1979 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 66,277,1979 |
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