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  • The preservatives ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben are oestrogenic in an in vivo fish assay.

The preservatives ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben are oestrogenic in an in vivo fish assay.

Pharmacology & toxicology (2001-02-07)
K L Pedersen, S N Pedersen, L B Christiansen, B Korsgaard, P Bjerregaard
ABSTRACT

The widely used phenolic preservatives ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and their common metabolite p-hydroxybenzoic acid were tested for their ability to evoke an oestrogenic response in vivo. Yolk protein induction in sexually immature rainbow trout was used as an oestrogen-specific endpoint after repeated injections of the compounds. All tested parabens were oestrogenic in doses between 100 and 300 mg/kg, while the metabolite showed no activity. Ethylparaben was found to be approximately sixty times weaker than propyl- and butylparaben which had oestrogenic potencies comparable to those previously found for bisphenol A.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Ethyl parahydroxybenzoate, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Supelco
Ethylparaben, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, ReagentPlus®, 99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, SAJ first grade, ≥99.0%