Types of Parabens in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Parabens are natural and synthetic chemical compounds containing para-hydroxybenzoic acid, and synthetic parabens have been used as preservatives in pharmaceuticals since 1924. They are more widely used as preservatives in cosmetics and to some extent in foods. Although they have been considered completely safe for decades, recent studies have brought them under closer scrutiny. According to Ecollo.com, they act on the body in the same way as estrogen and can be harmful if overused. The principal types used in pharmaceuticals are methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl parabens.

Methyl and Ethyl Parabens

• Methyl paraben is used to control fungal growth in pharmaceuticals as well as cosmetics and some foods. Studies have shown it to be non-toxic, and in 1974 a joint committee of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended an acceptable daily intake of up to 10 mg for each kilogram of body weight. However, a study published in 2008 by Meijo University in Japan showed that when skin treated with products containing methyl paraben was exposed to ultraviolet light it was damaged as was the DNA.

  Ethyl paraben is similar to methyl paraben and is used in much the same way. According to Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, the ingredient ethyl paraben (as opposed to any products containing it) could be linked to cancer, reproductive problems, allergies and other health issues.

Propyl Paraben

• Propyl paraben occurs naturally in some insects and plants, but the chemical used as a preservative in pharmaceuticals is synthetic. It is used primarily in water-based products because of its solubility. In a study published in 2002 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, propyl paraben was shown to adversely affect the male reproductive system.

Butyl Paraben

• Parabens are used as biocides in pharmaceuticals.

  Butyl paraben combats mold, fungus and bacteria in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and other products. It has been shown to be non-toxic when used as .05 percent of a solution, but if a stronger solution is used it can irritate the skin. The Tokyo study cited in the previous section showed that exposure to butyl paraben also adversely affects the male reproductive system as well as the production of testosterone, the principal male sex hormone.