Paraben Levels in an Urban Community of Western Canada

Stephen J. Genuis,Detlef Birkholz,Court Sandau,Luke Curtis

doi:10.1155/2013/507897

Abstract

With effective antibacterial and antifungal properties, commercially used parabens are synthetic compounds widely utilized as preservatives in cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and as an additive in some foodstuffs. While long regarded as relatively safe and nontoxic, recent research has demonstrated xenoestrogenic properties of anthropogenic parabens with early evidence that paraben exposure may be linked to breast cancer, thyroid dysfunction, allergy, and obesity. In an attempt to determine the prevalence of paraben exposure in a Canadian urban community, a sample of convenience was done by measuring urinary levels of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and isobutyl parabens (MP, EP, PP, BP, and IP) in 39 consecutive patients in an Alberta primary care clinic. In 28 female patients including 9 pregnant women, the median urinary levels (in μg/L) were 25.45 for MP, 10.17 for EP, 2.80 for PP, 0.30 for BP, and 0.24 for IP. In 11 male patients, the median urinary levels (in μg/L) were 25.95 for MP, 10.37 for EP, 3.09 for PP, 0.35 for BP, and 0.22 for IP. Especially high urinary paraben levels were reported in a few patients, with the highest urinary concentrations (in μg/L) reported as 966.46 for MP, 220.6 as EP, and 612.73 for PP. It is evident that exposure to assorted parabens is a routine event for many if not most individuals, including pregnant women, in urban Alberta, Canada.

Highlights

Parabens are a collective term for alkyl esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA)
With recent evidence that parabens may act as endocrine disrupting chemicals, increasing research is underway to delineate potential human health sequelae that may result from exposure to these compounds
In an attempt to determine the prevalence of paraben exposure in one representative urban community in Canada, a sample of convenience was done by measuring urinary levels of common parabens in patients in an Alberta primary care clinic

Summary

Introduction

With broad antibacterial and antifungal properties, parabens have been used as antimicrobial preservatives in food, beverages, drugs, and personal care products for the past 75 years [1]. Common parabens include methyl paraben (MP), ethyl paraben (EP), propyl paraben (PP), butylparaben (BP), and isobutyl paraben (IP). These compounds are relatively inexpensive and have long been believed to have low levels of toxicity, irritation, and sensitizing potential [1]. With recent evidence that parabens may act as endocrine disrupting chemicals, increasing research is underway to delineate potential human health sequelae that may result from exposure to these compounds. With broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy and chemical stability, parabens have become a popular preservative additive in foodstuffs, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Close to half of cosmetics tested in the US contain parabens [3] with MP being the most common agent found and lipstick having the highest paraben concentration [5]

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