New evidence indicates that parabens, chemicals found in underarm cosmetics and other products, can be detected in human breast tumours.
13/01/2004
Previous suggestions have been made that certain components of underarm cosmetics may contribute to the rising incidence of breast cancer. Although the connection has yet to be proven, this research represents an important link that will be crucial to further investigations.
Researchers studied samples of 20 different human breast tumours, measuring the concentration of parabens in the tissue. Intact parabens were detected in the samples, with a mean concentration of 20.6 ng per gram of tissue. The parabens were detected in their ester form rather than metabolite form, which suggests that the route of entry was topical and not oral.
Parabens are used as preservatives in thousands of cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products but this is the first study to show their accumulation in human tissues. Their detection in human breast tumours is of concern since parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen and oestrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumours. It would therefore seem especially prudent to consider whether parabens should continue to be used in such a wide range of cosmetics applied to the breast area.
It is clear that parabens serve no useful purpose in human tissue but further research is required to confirm their route of disposition, persistence and whether they can cause harm. Finally, Dr Darbre and colleagues fully peer reviewed finding of parabens in tumour samples does not imply causality of the tumour and further work is required to examine any association between oestrogenic, and other, chemicals in underarm cosmetics and breast cancer.
The study is to be published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
More information at the meica.de website
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