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Butylparaben is a chemical compound used as an antifungal preservative in cosmetics and medicine. It shares structural qualities with estrogen and is absorbed into the body, potentially causing an increase in the expression of genes that cause breast cancer. Its safety is debated, but it is still widely used in products.
Butylparaben, also called butyl paraben, butyl parahydroxybenzoate or butyl p-hydroxybenzoate, is a chemical compound that is used as an antifungal preservative in various cosmetic products. Its molecular formula is C4H9(C6H4(OH)COO). Butylparaben shares several structural qualities with estrogen and is thought to have some influence on human reproduction.
Parabens such as butylparaben are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. An ester is a compound which, in general, forms from the reaction of an acid and an alcohol. Butylparaben is the butyl ester of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. A butyl is a chain containing four carbon atoms and nine hydrogen atoms. The C4H9 in the molecular formula of butylparaben makes it a butyl ester.
Many cosmetic products use parabens. They can be found in shaving creams, moisturizers, shampoos, lubricants and other cosmetic products where they act as fungicidal and bactericidal agents. Commercially used parabens are produced synthetically, although many are similar, if not identical, to naturally occurring parabens. Butylparaben is also used as a suspension liquid in many medications.
There is much debate surrounding the extensive use of parabens. They are considered safe due to a long history of supposedly safe use, but their safety has recently come into question. Studies conducted in the early 2000s identified traces of parabens in breast tumors. Some scientists say the parabens in deodorants and body sprays may be responsible for improving cancerous cells. Cosmetic industry leaders deny any connection between parabens and breast cancer.
Parabens are absorbed from the skin into the circulatory system and gastrointestinal system. Many are weak estrogen mimics and are able to bind to cellular estrogen receptors. Their estrogen mimicry is said to cause an increase in the expression of genes that cause human breast cancers. The expression of these genes is usually regulated by estradiol, the primary estrogen appearing in humans.
While its use is debated alongside other parabens, butylparaben is still used in cosmetics and medicine. Its use as an antifungal preservative keeps cosmetic products usable for longer periods of time and promotes healthier skin, and its role as a suspension fluid in medications is helpful in moderating the rate of release of chemicals in the body. However, its alleged links to breast cancer, if confirmed, could result in a sharp decline in its use.
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