Butylparaben

Synonyms

Butyl parahydroxybenzoate; 4-(Butoxycarbonyl)phenol; 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid butyl ester; Aseptoform butyl; Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, butyl ester; Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-, butyl ester; Butoben; Butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate; Butyl butex; Butyl chemosept; Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate; Butyl paraben; Butyl parasept; Butyl tegosept; Butyl-Parasept; Nipabutyl; Preserval B; SPF; Solbrol B; Tegosept B; Tegosept butyl; n-Butyl hydroxybenzoate; n-Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate; n-Butyl parahydroxybenzoate; p-Hydroxybenzoic acid butyl ester; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Preservatives

Description

Colorless solid; Insoluble in water (207 mg/L at 20 deg C); Very hygroscopic; [HSDB] White odorless solid; Insoluble in water; [CAMEO] Powder; Slightly soluble in water; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as an antifungal agent, preservative in antiseptic creams, food preservative, and pharyngeal antiseptic; [HSDB] The parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl) were the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics (0.1% to 0.8%) until their sensitizing potential was recognized; [Marks, p. 115]

Comments

Parabens are an uncommon cause of allergic contact dermatitis; [Marks, p. 115] A skin irritant; Causes liver injury in feeding studies of mice; [HSDB] A skin and eye irritant; A potential skin sensitizer; [CAMEO] An eye and mild skin irritant; May cause skin sensitization; [eChemPortal: ERMA] "Parabens can induce allergic contact dermatitis, mainly in chronic dermatitis and wounded skin." [Kanerva, p. 1822-3]

Cancelled-- no longer contained in any registered pesticide products for use in the US; [HSDB]

Biomedical References

0.000186 mm Hg

Yes

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)