Parabens are widely used preservatives found in food as well as cosmetics and personal products like soap, moisturizers, deodorants, etc. Almost everyone is exposed to parabens: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested more than 2,500 urine samples and detected methyl paraben in 99 percent and propyl paraben in 93 percent. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20056562
Parabens can mimic estrogen which can disrupt the endocrine system, playing a role in the development of breast cancers. Some studies suggest a link between parabens and fertility problems as well as increased skin aging and irritation.
"Although parabens are classified as “generally recognized as safe” in foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, increasing evidence has drawn attention to their possible health risks, primarily their potential to disrupt the endocrine system, which can interfere with the normal functioning of hormones.
Now the UC Berkeley study, published online Oct. 27, 2015, in Environmental Health Perspectives, argues that previous research only looked at parabens' effects in isolation. The study shows that when parabens interact with other biochemical changes in breast cancer cells, the effect is much stronger and could lead to faster, more aggressive growth of tumors and formation of malignant cancer."
Become an empowered consumer, and send the message that we demand safer ingredients. Recommended online resources include the Environmental Working Group and Think Dirty which help consumers make informed purchases are: https://www.ewg.org and https://www.thinkdirtyapp.com.
