ETHYLPARABEN - 120-47-8

Key Functions: Cosmetics & Personal Care

Ethylparaben is an ester of p-hydroxybenzoate that is used as an antimicrobial preservative in drugs and cosmetics for over 50 years. It is produced by the n-propanol esterification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid followed by distillation (HSDB 2017). In 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food evaluated the safety of ethylparaben in food at up to 1,800 µg/person/day and concluded it did not give rise to safety concerns at its current dietary intake (EFSA 2012).

Chemical Synonyms Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate; ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate; ethyl parahydroxybenzoate; 4- hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester; p-hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester; benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, ethyl ester; p-carbethoxyphenol; p-oxybenzoesaeureaethylester; 4-carbethoxyphenol; p-hydroxybenzoate ethyl ester; EC 204-399-4; HSDB 938; EINECS 204-399-4 (PubChem 2023)

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