Lately, many cosmetic companies have been advertising that their products are “paraben-free”, but before purchasing one option or another, it is important to know what exactly parabens are and the possible threats they pose. Like VOCs, parabens are extremely common in consumer products and almost everyone has some exposure to these chemicals. Furniture and decor companies like Merida, try to reduce the number of VOCs in their products (such as Merida’s Pure Line of natural fiber area rugs), but there is much more conclusive research about VOCs, finding that exposure to them is harmful to human health. Less is known about the effects of paraben exposure, but since they are so pervasive, it is good skill to be able to identify which products have parabens.
Parabens are chemical preservatives used to prevent the growth of microbial organisms in personal care items and foods. It is estimated that about 25,000 different products contain parabens. The most common of these products are body moisturizers, hair care products, makeup, toothpaste, sodas, mayonnaise, and jam. About 85% of all toiletries contain parabens. In 2004 safety concerns surfaced when a study detected parabens in breast tumors. It is thought parabens mimic estrogen and disrupt the body’s endocrines causing harmful hormonal confusion within the human body. Parabens are also stored up in the body and can be passed on to children. Studies have shown that parabens can affect male reproductive systems in newborn mammals. However no studies on this topic have been conducted on humans, and the study that found parabens in human breast tumor tissue failed to prove that parabens caused or even played any role in the actual tumor development. Therefore the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has maintained that there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about parabens just yet, and that studies will continue.
Many people are choosing to purchase paraben-free items because the possibility that these chemicals could cause cancer or birth defects is not a risk worth taking. Cosmetics are required by law to list their ingredients, so once consumers learn the various terms for parabens, they are much easier to avoid. These names include: propylparaben, parahydroxybenzoate, and ester. Some companies like Aveda, Burt’s Bees, and Origins make it easy because they don’t use parabens in any of their products. If you are trying to reduce your exposure to parabens, but don’t have time to read ingredient labels on everything you buy, then just read labels on products that you use the most of. For example, many people lather lotion over their entire bodies which is left on and absorbed into the skin, but only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, most of which will be spit out anyway, so it will make a bigger difference to purchase paraben-free moisturizer than paraben-free toothpaste. Whatever you decide to do, it is always responsible to know that you and your family may be exposed to risks based on your daily purchasing decisions.