Chemical Used in Personal Care Products is `Cancerous` Even in Lower Doses

Parabens are a class of preservatives that are widely-used in personal care consumer products like shampoos, cosmetics, body lotions and sunscreens. They are considered estrogenic because they activate the same estrogen receptor as the natural hormone estradiol. How much parabens might contribute to breast cancer risk remains unclear. A new study has revealed that parabens may actually be more dangerous at lower doses than previously thought. The study could have implications for the development of breast cancer and other diseases that are influenced by estrogens. The findings also raises questions about current safety testing methods that may not predict the true potency of parabens and their effects on human health.

Lead investigator Dale Leitman said, "Although parabens are known to mimic the growth effects of estrogens on breast cancer cells, some consider their effect too weak to cause harm, but this might not be true when parabens are combined with other agents that regulate cell growth."

Co-author Chris Vulpe said, "While this study focused on parabens, it's also possible that the potency of other estrogen mimics have been underestimated by current testing approaches. In particular, one area of increasing concern is how exposure to multiple chemicals during critical periods of development including puberty and pregnancy increases a person's susceptibility to breast cancer later in life."

The study appears in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Source-ANI