Ethylparaben

Synonyms

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester; Aseptin A; Aseptoform E; Bonomold OE; Carbethoxyphenol; Easeptol; Ester etylowykwasu p-hydroksybenzoesowego [Polish]; Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate; Ethyl butex; Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate; Ethyl p-oxybenzoate; Ethyl paraben; Ethyl parasept; Ethylester kyseliny p-hydroxybenzoove [Czech]; Mekkings E; Mycocten; Napagin A; Nipagin A; Nipazin A; Sobrol A; Solbrol A; Tegosept E; p-Carbethoxyphenol; p-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester; p-Oxybenzoesaeureaethylester [German]; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Preservatives

Description

Colorless solid; [Hawley] Crystalline powder; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as a preservative for pharmaceuticals, adhesives, and various cosmetic preparations (inhibits fungal and bacterial growth); [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 mild skin irritant with some evidence of skin sensitization in human studies; Caused mild eye irritation, no to minimal skin irritation, and no skin sensitization in animal studies; [HSDB] 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] May cause irritation; [MSDSonline]

Biomedical References

9.29E-05 mm Hg

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Working with Glues and Adhesives