Parabens are a group of chemicals that have been widely used as artificial preservatives in cosmetics and body care products since the early twentieth century. Since cosmetics contain biodegradable ingredients, these chemicals are added to prevent and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, extending the shelf life of the product. The concern with parabens is that scientific studies suggest that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body and harm fertility and reproductive organs, affect birth outcomes, and increase the risk of cancer.
Given its capacity for endocrine disruption and documented male and female reproductive damage and the potential for repeated lifetime exposure, long-chain parabens should not be used in personal care and cosmetic products. It is also possible to produce these products without these chemicals.
Parabens are used in a wide variety of rinse products, especially in products with a high water content, such as shampoos and conditioners that people use every day. Its antimicrobial properties are very effective against fungi and gram positive bacteria. Moisturizers, face and skin cleansers, sunscreens, deodorants, shaving gels, toothpastes, make-up and many more contain parabens. Parabens are absorbed into the body through the skin, metabolized and excreted in the urine and bile.
Personal care products are the biggest contributors to paraben exposure, as seen in studies investigating paraben levels in people's bodies. Women who wear make-up every day have 20 times more propylparaben in their urine than those who rarely or never do. The use of body and face lotions, hair products, sunscreens, and makeup all significantly increases paraben levels in the urine.
Cosmetic products generally contain different types of paraben mixtures. Shorter chain parabens are commonly used in combination, while butylparaben is often used alone. Longer chain parabens are linked to strong estrogenic activity.
Parabens may act like the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the normal function of hormone systems affecting the functioning of the male and female reproductive system, reproductive development, fertility and birth outcomes. Parabens can also interfere with hormone production.
Our organization also provides paraben-free testing services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.
To get an appointment, to get more detailed information or to request an evaluation, you can ask us to fill in our form and reach you.
EUROLAB reporting and certification activities, United Accreditation Foundation (UAF), Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK), Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) based on the accreditation provided by its institution. The Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) is also a signatory to the United Nations (UN GLOBAL COMPACT).
