Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks

• Published in: Journal of applied toxicology Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 561 - 578
• Main Authors: Darbre, Philippa D., Harvey, Philip W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.07.2008; Wiley
• Subjects: absorption; androgen; Androgen Antagonists - toxicity; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; breast cancer; carcinogenesis; cosmetics; Dermatology; Domestic and cosmetic products toxicology; endocrine disruption; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Endocrine System Diseases - chemically induced; Endocrine System Diseases - epidemiology; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; esterase; Esterases - metabolism; Esters - toxicity; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal - toxicity; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Legislation, Drug; male reproductive disorders; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; melanoma; Mutagens - toxicity; oestrogen; paraben; Parabens - analysis; Parabens - pharmacokinetics; Parabens - toxicity; Receptors, Estrogen - drug effects; Risk Assessment; skin; Skin Neoplasms - chemically induced; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Toxicology; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Cosmetic; oestrogen; Breast disease; Endocrine gland; Toxicity; Male; Esterases; Review; Carcinogenesis; cosmetics; endocrine disruption; Ester; Reproduction; Absorption; Malignant melanoma; esterase; Public health; paraben; Human; Androgen; Enzyme; male reproductive disorders; melanoma; Breast cancer; Exposure; Endocrine disruptor; Malignant tumor; Mammary gland diseases; Hydrolases; Skin; Sex steroid hormone; Discussion; Endocrinology; Bibliographic review; Cancer
• ISSN: 0260-437X; 1099-1263
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.1358

This toxicology update reviews research over the past four years since publication in 2004 of the first measurement of intact esters of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in human breast cancer tissues, and the suggestion that their presence in the human body might originate from topical application of bodycare cosmetics. The presence of intact paraben esters in human body tissues has now been confirmed by independent measurements in human urine, and the ability of parabens to penetrate human skin intact without breakdown by esterases and to be absorbed systemically has been demonstrated through studies not only in vitro but also in vivo using healthy human subjects. Using a wide variety of assay systems in vitro and in vivo, the oestrogen agonist properties of parabens together with their common metabolite (p‐hydroxybenzoic acid) have been extensively documented, and, in addition, the parabens have now also been shown to possess androgen antagonist activity, to act as inhibitors of sulfotransferase enzymes and to possess genotoxic activity. With the continued use of parabens in the majority of bodycare cosmetics, there is a need to carry out detailed evaluation of the potential for parabens, together with other oestrogenic and genotoxic co‐formulants of bodycare cosmetics, to increase female breast cancer incidence, to interfere with male reproductive functions and to influence development of malignant melanoma which has also recently been shown to be influenced by oestrogenic stimulation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.