Donate to EWG Today!
PROPYLPARABEN
Score
Data: Fair
CAS94-13-3
eye shadow (787 products)
lipstick (725 products)
facial moisturizer/ treatment (652 products)
foundation (584 products)
mascara (563 products)
Show all 8,747 products that contain PROPYLPARABEN.
how to read the score

Get The Guide!


Want a free Cosmetics Guide? Donate $5 to EWG today!

PROPYLPARABEN


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer no information
Developmental & reproductive toxicityyes
Allergies & immunotoxicityyes
Use restrictions no information
Contamination concerns: none
Other MODERATE concerns: Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Other LOW concerns: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps

About the ratings

EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer

Function/use(s): Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative; PERFUMING

About PROPYLPARABEN: Propylparaben is in the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries. Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) sys ... read more

Synonym(s): PROPYLPARABEN, POTASSIUM SALT; BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, PROPYL ESTER; 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, PROPYL ESTER; PROPYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE; PROPYL PARAHYDROXYBENZOATE; BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, PROPYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT; 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, PROPYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT; PROPYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE SODIUM SALT; PROPYLPARABEN, SODIUM SALT; POTASSIUM SALT PROPYLPARABEN; PROPYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-

Endocrine disruption

type of concern product conditions reference
Human endocrine disruptor - strong evidence    European Commission on Endocrine Disruption
One or more studies show significant wildlife and the environment disruption    European Commission on Endocrine Disruption
show more

Allergies/immunotoxicity

type of concern product conditions reference
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence    Cosmetics Industry Review
show more

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

type of concern product conditions reference
One or more animal studies show effects at low doses    Oishi S, 2002

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

type of concern product conditions reference
Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity    Harvell, J, 1994
show more

Ecotoxicology

type of concern product conditions reference
Wildlife and environmental toxicity    Mikula P, Dobsikova R, Svobodova Z, Jarkovsky J, 2006
show more

Data gaps

type of concern product conditions reference
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product   Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
563 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->   PubMed

Persistence and bioaccumulation

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
show more

Multiple, additive exposure sources

type of concern product conditions reference
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food   FDA Everything Added to Food
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food   FDA Food Additive Status

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
FDA Food Additive StatusPROPYLPARABEN• PRES
• GRAS/FS
• GMP - CFR184.1670
• < 0.1%
• Part 150
• 150.141; 150.161)
• Art Sw Jelly & Preserves
• REG
• 0.025%
• In mastitis formulations - CFR526.820
• REG
• ZERO - In milk from dairy animals - CFR556.550
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsPROPYLPARABENQQQ01,QQQ11; D-, M-, C-
FDA Everything Added to FoodPROPYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE• ASP
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListBENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, PROPYL ESTER,,,,,,,,,
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListBENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, PROPYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT,,,,,,,,,
European Commission on Endocrine DisruptionN-PROPYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATEHH-CAT1;WF-CAT1
Cosmetics Industry ReviewPROPYLPARABENEWG5 - skin sensitizer
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListPROPYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATEreported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListSODIUM 4 - PROPOXYCARBONYLPHENOXIDEreported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008
Inui, 2003PROPYL PARABENIncreased VTG concerntration, mRNA expression of VTG-1, VTG-2, CHG-L, CHG-H and ERa in male medaka
Routledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, Ashby J, Sumpter JP, 1998PROPYLPARABENPropylparaben produced a positive uterotrophic response in vivo, approximately 100,000 times less potent than 17 beta-estradiol.
Mikula P, Dobsikova R, Svobodova Z, Jarkovsky J, 2006PROPYLPARABENResults suggest an antiestrogenic potential of propylparaben tested in vivo in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Oishi S, 2002PROPYLPARABENThe cauda epididymal sperm reserves and concentrations decreased in a dose-dependent manner and the difference was significant at dose of 0.10% and above.
Harvell, J, 1994PARABENSSkin or Sense Organ Toxicity Hazards: suspected
Byford JR, Shaw LE, Drew MG, Pope GS, Sauer MJ, Darbre PD, 2002PARABENSEWG11
Harvell, J, 1994PARABENSParabens listed as one of the agents capable of causing contact urticaria by immunological pathogenetic mechanism.

Other RTECS® classifications [shown for informational purposes only]
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 1960PROPYLPARABEN• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002PROPYLPARABEN• reproductive - Testes, epididymis, sperm duct (rat TDLo)
• metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo)
• endocrine system - Androgenic (rat TDLo)
RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1956PROPYLPARABEN• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)
• brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Changes in motor activity (specific assay) (mouse LD50)
• brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Flaccid paralysis without anesthesia (usually neuromuscular blockage) (mouse LD50)
• brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Mutation Research 2008PROPYLPARABEN• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (hamster ovr)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (hamster ovr)
RTECS®- National Technical Information Service PROPYLPARABEN• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 1929PROPYLPARABEN• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LDLo)
RTECS®- Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi 1973PROPYLPARABEN• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)

references
government/industry list/academic study reference
FDA Food Additive StatusFDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
FDA Everything Added to FoodFDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
European Commission on Endocrine DisruptionEU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998.
EWG Assessment of Open Scientific LiteratureCosmetics Industry Review
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListIFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25
Open scientific literature{Inui, 2003}
Open scientific literatureRoutledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, Ashby J, Sumpter JP, 1998. "Some alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (parabens) are estrogenic.," Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1998 Nov;153(1):12-9.
Open scientific literatureMikula P, Dobsikova R, Svobodova Z, Jarkovsky J, 2006. "Evaluation of xenoestrogenic potential of propylparaben in zebrafish (Danio rerio)." Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Dec;27 Suppl 2:104-7.
Open scientific literatureOishi S, 2002. "Effects of propyl paraben on the male reproductive system." Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Dec;40(12):1807-13.
Scorecard.org Toxicity InformationHarvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria).
EWG Assessment of Open Scientific LiteratureByford JR, Shaw LE, Drew MG, Pope GS, Sauer MJ, Darbre PD. Oestrogenic activity of parabens in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 Jan;80(1):49-60.
Open scientific literatureHarvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria).
RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 1960 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie. (Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium) V.4- 1898- 128,135,1960
RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 1982- 40,1807,2002
RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1956 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 45,260,1956
RTECS®- Mutation Research 2008 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 649,114,2008
RTECS®- National Technical Information Service [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. AD691-490
RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 1929 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie. (Berlin, Ger.) V.110-253, 1925-66. For publisher information, see NSAPCC. 146,208,1929
RTECS®- Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi 1973 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi. Japanese Journal of Hygiene. (Nippon Eisei Gakkai, c/o Kyoto Daigaku Igakubu, Konoe-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan) V.1- 1946- 28,463,1973

"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.