Ethylparaben is a chemical compound, ethyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid.

It takes the form of a fine white powder that is odourless and tasteless.

What it is used for and where

It is a preservative additive used in various fields including cosmetics and is used to combat bacteria, fungi, yeasts and moulds. It is labelled with the number E214 in the list of European additives as a preservative.

Safety

Parabens are a controversial component and their safety has been questioned, especially because of the damage they are said to cause to the aquatic environment where they are discharged after use (1). Parabens may also contribute to obesity (2).

Like all members of the paraben family, it can cause allergies.

Parabens

Parabens are chemical preservative compounds that have been the subject of attention in the scientific literature as possible endocrine disruptors (particularly propylparaben and butylparaben), i.e. with the possibility of damaging the hormone-producing glands in our bodies, particularly in the breasts. The 2004 study by Darbre et al. showed that parabens remain in our bodies as intact esters (3). Following this study, some of the scientific literature in 2005 and 2006 cast doubt on Darbre's conclusions and claimed they were limited. However, both the US FDA and the European SCCP authorised in 2006 the use of a single paraben in cosmetic products at a concentration of 0.4% and the use of total parabens at a concentration of 0.8% (4). However, there is no shortage of studies that consider the restrictions unnecessary: M. G. Kirchhof et al. in 2013 found that parabens are among the safest and most well-tolerated preservatives and that current data do not support drastic regulations or personal exposure restrictions (5). Darbre in 2014 published a further study in which he showed how parabens can cause DNA damage (6).

For more information:      Ethylparaben studies

Typical optimal commercial product characteristics Ethylparaben

• Molecular Formula   C₉H₁₀O₃
• Linear Formula    HOC₆H₄CO₂C₂H₅
• Molecular Weight   166.176 g/mol
• Exact Mass    166.062988
• CAS    9001-05-2   120-47-8
• UNII    14255EXE39
• EC Number   204-399-4
• DSSTox Substance ID     DTXSID9022528
• IUPAC  ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
• InChI=1S/C9H10O3/c1-2-12-9(11)7-3-5-8(10)6-4-7/h3-6,10H,2H2,1H3  
• InChl Key      NUVBSKCKDOMJSU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES     CCOC(=O)C1=CC=C(C=C1)O
• MDL number   MFCD00002353
• PubChem Substance ID    329749805
• Beilstein    1101972
• ChEBI    31575
• CHEMBL15841  
• NSC   755851   23514    8510
• NACRES NA.24

Synonyms:

• Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
• 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester
• Ethyl paraben
• p-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester
• Ethyl-4-hydroxybenzoate
• EINECS 204-399-4

References__________________________________________________________________

(1) Terasaki M, Abe R, Makino M, Tatarazako N. Chronic toxicity of parabens and their chlorinated by-products in Ceriodaphnia dubia. Environ Toxicol. 2015 May-Jun;30(6):664-73. doi: 10.1002/tox.21944.

Popa DS, Bolfa P, Kiss B, Vlase L, Păltinean R, Pop A, Cătoi C, Crişan G, Loghin F. Influence of Genista tinctoria L. or methylparaben on subchronic toxicity of bisphenol A in rats. Biomed Environ Sci. 2014 Feb;27(2):85-96. doi: 10.3967/bes2014.021.

(2) Hu P, Chen X, Whitener RJ, Boder ET, Jones JO, Porollo A, Chen J, Zhao L. Effects of parabens on adipocyte differentiation. Toxicol Sci. 2013 Jan;131(1):56-70. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs262.

(3) Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, Coldham NG, Sauer MJ, Pope GS. Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. J Appl Toxicol. 2004 Jan-Feb;24(1):5-13. doi: 10.1002/jat.958.

(4) https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/parabens-cosmetics

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final amended report on the safety assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benzylparaben as used in cosmetic products. Int J Toxicol. 2008;27(Suppl 4):1-82.

(5) Kirchhof MG, de Gannes GC. The health controversies of parabens. Skin Therapy Lett. 2013 Feb;18(2):5-7.

(6) Darbre PD, Harvey PW. Parabens can enable hallmarks and characteristics of cancer in human breast epithelial cells: a review of the literature with reference to new exposure data and regulatory status. J Appl Toxicol. 2014 Sep;34(9):925-38. doi: 10.1002/jat.3027.