There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of parabens. Parabens are synthetic chemicals used as an antimicrobial preservative and are found in over 25,000 personal care products that include makeup, moisturizers, hair care products, shaving products, hand soap, toothpaste, and even pharmaceuticals and food. Methyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and ethyl- parabens are the four main parabens used to preserve an array of products. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) does not authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve cosmetic ingredients (with the exception of color additives that are not coal-tar additives in hair dyes). The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), supported by the FDA, reviewed the safety of these parabens and concluded that they were safe for use.

But, parabens are known hormone disrupters that mimic estrogen and may be linked to high rates of breast cancer and reproductive problems in women and decreased sperm counts and prostrate and testicular cancer in men. They are absorbed through the skin and bind to the body's estrogen receptors. They are stored in the body's fatty tissues and do not get flushed out with water, thus they accumulate over the years. Dr. Phillipa Darbre, a professor of Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Reading in England, performed a study in which tissue samples were taken from patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer and analyzed for the presence of parabens. Out of 20 tumors analyzed, 18 were found to have high concentrations of parabens.

I do not want to take a chance with products that may or may not cause cancer. Until parabens can be established as 'safe', they should be withdrawn from products that use them. Shouldn't the burden of proof be on the companies that use them and not on the bodies of breast cancer victims? Know your products by researching the ingredient labels and choose products that are paraben free.

For a list of companies who provide paraben-free products, please visit www.edennaturalproductsresouce.com.

RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours, Dr. Phillipa Darbre, Journal of Applied Toxicology

Cosmetic Chemicals Found in Breast Tumors, NewScientist.com

Cosmetics, Parabens and Breast Cancer, Organic Consumers Association

Choose Safe Cosmetics, PurePrevention.org

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, SafeCosmetics.org

Cosmetic Safety Database, Skin Deep (Environmental Working Group)

The Truth About Parabens, Terressentials

Cosmetics Companies and Breast Cancer, ThinkBeforeYouPink.org

Parabens, US Food and Drug Administration

Paraben, Wikipedia