What is it?
These chemically derived parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetic and personal skin care products such as moisturizer, hair care products, cosmetics, shaving products, and even food and drugs. Parabens are considered endocrine disruptors.
More information
A.K.A. Xeno-Parabens. Because they are derived from plant sources, they are called “natural” or even “organic”, but they have been connected to breast cancer. Methyl- Propyl- and Ethyl- and Butyl- Parabens are xenoestrogens and have been detected in human breast cancer tissue and are suspected in hormone imbalances, sterility and early puberty onset. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14745841 They can have a hormonal effect on growing fetuses as well. All the parabens, and there are many, are used to inhibit microbial growth. . OSHA requires cosmetic makers to use a respirator when working with parabens.
While Parabens do occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and berries, the key diffence is these are truly natural parabens and are not chemically altered and create xenoestrogens.
Reference: http://bit.ly/1Eb7C7y
Some Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate Preservatives (Parabens) are Estrogenic, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK
