New evidence suggests link between parabens and breast cancer
New evidence has emerged surrounding a potential link between parabens and breast cancer.
Dr Barbara Olioso, director of Organatural Cosmetic Developments, has shared results from in vitro tests performed by Dr Philippa Darbre at Reading University, which suggest that isobutylparaben is linked to increased development of breast cancer cells.
On Dr Olioso's blog are photos of breast cancer cells before incubation with, and without, 0.00019 per cent isobutylparaben. After four days, there was significantly more growth of breast cancer cells when the paraben was present.
This evidence is yet to be published in a scientific journal and it is Dr Oliso's understanding that Dr Darbre is working on a research paper in which she will give details of her exact findings.
However, Dr Olioso believes that these results are significant and should be taken into consideration by the scientific community as well as consumers.
The new findings follow Dr Darbre's 2004 research, which originally opened up the debate on the link between parabens and breast cancer.
"Nobody has repeated the research so far and it's a real shame," commented Dr Olioso, explaining that a lack of funding seemed to be an issue.
Manufacturers have continued to insist that these chemicals, which are the most commonly used preservatives in the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industry, are safe. In fact, when Dr Darbre's 2004 findings were published, many cosmetic industry associations highlighted the limitations of the study.
However, Dr Darbre's latest publication on the issue, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2008, stated that the systemic absorption of parabens from environmental exposures has since been confirmed by other groups.
Dr Olioso said that these latest findings had prompted her to stay clear of products containing parabens.
"I do believe that we need to find out more about these parabens and my approach is really just to be safe rather than sorry and just to avoid them," she explained.
"That's why I'm delivering this message from more of an awareness perspective, rather than feeding fear, so people can decide for themselves. If they want to know more they can research, they can go online for more information," she said.
"Considering these pieces of information there are good reasons to be concerned and to do further investigation."
At the moment, propylparaben and butylparaben are under review and the European scientific committee has asked for more information to fill gaps in data, according to Dr Olioso.
She stressed that she was not suggesting parabens cause cancer, but that there is a strong case for finding out more information about a potential link.
"At a personal level, I wouldn't like to use them, I would prefer to avoid them, she concluded.
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