CONTENTS OF METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN AND BENZYLPARABEN IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS

The contents of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and benzylparaben in 215 cosmetic products have been determined to elucidate the concentrat ion and frequency of use of these parabens in cosmetic products, and t o monitor whether the products complied with the Danish and EEC regula tions. The results showed that 77% of the products investigated contai ned 0.01%-0.87% parabens. Nearly all (99%) of the leave-on cosmetics a nd 77% of rinse-off cosmetics were found to contain parabens. A maximu m of 0.32% methyl- and propylparaben, 0.19% ethylparaben, and 0.07% bu tyl- and benzylparaben were present in paraben-positive cosmetics. A p referential use of methyl-/ethyl-/propyl-/butyl-/benzylparaben in vari ous groups of cosmetic products was revealed.