Hidden dangers posed by cosmetics

EVEN low doses of a common chemical found in cosmetics can cause breast cancer, scientists have claimed.

Parabens are widely used in shampoos, cosmetics, body lotions and sunscreens and have been previously associated with cancer particularly during pregnancy and puberty.

Now researchers have discovered that parabens trigger oestrogen receptors, which have been linked to breast cancer, to a significant degree.

They said the true cancer risk posed by parabens was unclear, because current tests only look at their effect in isolation and people come into contact with multiple chemicals every day through consumer products.

“Although parabens are known to mimic the growth effects of oestrogens on breast cancer cells, some consider their effect too weak to cause harm,” said lead investigator Dale Leitman, a gynaecologist and molecular biologist.

“But this might not be true when parabens are combined with other agents that regulate cell growth.”

“Scientists and regulators are using potency estimates from these kinds of tests and are assuming they are relevant to what goes on in real life. But if you don’t design the right test, you can be off by a lot,” said co-author Ruthann Rudel, a toxicologist at Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts.

The study was published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal.