• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2006

The use of underarm and body care cosmetics with oestrogenic chemical excipients (particularly the parabens) and the hypothesized association with breast cancer incidence, particularly in women. It is noted that the type of cosmetic product is irrelevant (e.g. antiperspirant/deodorant versus body lotion, moisturizers or sprays versus creams) and attention must focus on issues of actual exposure to chemicals through continued dermal application of body care products and the endocrine/hormonal activity and toxicity of the chemicals in the formulations. To evaluate the estrogenic activities of parabens such as ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben, we used recombinant yeasts containing the human estrogen receptor [Saccharomyces cerevisiae ER+LYS 8127], human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines and human estrogen receptor ${\alpha}\;and\;{\beta}$. In E-screen assays, isopropylparaben is the most estrogenic paraben, and in ER competition assay, isobutylparaben is the most estrogenic paraben. We evaluated isopropylparaben was most active in the recombinant yeast assay, followed by propylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben and butylparaben. Results from this study demonstrate that parabens are observed in human endocrine system. Therefore, we have shown that the parabens is induced the estrogenic activities similar to $17{\beta}$-estradiol and Bisphenol-A.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.323-333
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• 2009

Parabens are alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which are widely used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutic products as preservatives. Absorbed parabens are metabolized fastly and excreted. Actually human body is exposed to complex mixture of parabens. Safety assessment at various toxicological end points revealed parabens have a little acute, subacute and chronic toxicities. Some reports have argued that as parabens have estrogenic activity, they are associated with the incidence of breast cancer through dermal absorption by cosmetics. There is an inference that antiandrogenic activity of parabens may give rise to a lesion of male reproductive system, but also there is an contrary. At cellular level, parabens may inhibit mitochondrial function of sperms and androgen production in testis, but also there is an contrary. Parabens seem to have little or no toxicity in embryonic development. Parabens can cause hemolysis, membrane permeability change in mitochondria and apoptosis, suggesting cellular toxicity of parabens. Parabens evoked endocrine disruption in several fish species and have toxic effect on small invertebrates and microbes. Therefore, the toxicity of parabens should be considered as a potentially toxic chemical in the freshwater environment. In conclusion, though parabens may be considered as a low toxic chemical, more definite data are required concerning the endocrine disrupting effect of parabens on human body and aquatic animals according to route and term of exposure as well as the residual concentration of parabens.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.4427-4432
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• 2010

Parabens have been widely used as preservatives in cosmetics due to the presumed low toxicity and long history of safe use. However, recent studies have shown the potent toxicity of parabens. In order to know if electrolyzed reduced water could suppress the oxidative DNA damage of HDF cell by methylparaben, one of the frequently used parabens, we performed comet assay in this study. As a result, interestingly, electrolyzed reduced water could suppress methylparaben-induced oxidative DNA damage in HDF cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2006

This study was conducted to determination of the endocrine distruptor function of 'Parabens' by dosing ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, isopropyl paraben, butyl paraben and isobutyl paraben to the immature SD rats. 18 groups were given vehicle control group, negative control group (Dibutyl phthalate), postive control group ($1'7-{\alpha}$ Ethynylestrdiol) and each paraben groups involved 3 dose level. Rats were injected with 62.5, 250 and 1,000mg/kg from postnatal day 19 till 21 once a day in subcutaneous and a total 3, times. There was no treatment related death. but, subcutaneous nodule, edema, alopecia and scrub formation on injection site was observed. These signs was become worse in high dose level. these signs was cause from physical stimulation by test substance which parabens were mix with com oil as vehicle. In the analysis of organ weights, absolute and relative weights of brain, spleen, liver, thymus, heart, kidneys, adrenals, ovaries and vagina were no difference with control group. but, wet and blotted weight of uterus was increased in every high dose parabens treat group. Especially, all dose level of isobutyl paraben was showed increment of uterus weight. uterus dilatation of parabens treated group was observed in gross anatomic pathology and these result was agree with wet and blotted weight of uterus. In the result of this study, estrogenic effect as endocrine distruptor was observed in ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, isopropyl paraben, butyl paraben and isobutyl paraben. and it was considered isobutyl paraben has highest estrogrnic effect under the condition of this study.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.225-231
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• 2018

Benzoic acid, methyl paraben, and butyl paraben are preservatives that have been used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products. However, as their toxicities for human have been reported, many nations and organizations including Korea have established a regulation limit for thier usage of these preservatives in food products. The present study developed the isotope dilution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method for accurate determination of three target preseratives in soysauce. In this study, the isotope dilution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method was developed for accurate determination of three target preservatives in soy sauce. LC separation was optimized considering the pKa of benzoic acid which is lower than those of methyl and butyl parabens. A C18 column was used with 5 mM ammonium acetate and methanol as mobile phases. Mass spectrometry was operated in negative mode and selected reaction monitoring mode (SRM). Soy sauce sample was cleaned-up with C18 SPE cartridge for removing matrix inferences and color material. Optimized conditions and the method were validated with soy sauce reference materials for the analysis of food preservatives from Health Science Authority in Singapore. The measured values of benzoic acid, methyl and butyl paraben agreed well with reference values within their uncertainties.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine 10 preservatives (benzyl alcohol (BAl), phenoxyethanol (PE), benzoic acid (BA), sorbic acid (SA), methyl paraben (MP), ethyl paraben (EP), propyl paraben (PP), isopropyl paraben (IPP), butyl paraben (BP), isobutyl paraben (IBP)) levels in 125 cosmetics (n = 125) for children by the simultaneous analysis of HPLC. The detection ranges were as follows; 0.01 ~ 0.91% (n = 35) for PE, 0.01 ~ 0.48% (n = 28) for BA, 0.01 ~ 0.78% (n = 9) for BAl, 0.01 ~ 0.11% (n = 3) for SA, 0.04 ~ 0.21% (n = 8) for MP, 0.02 ~ 0.09% (n = 8) for PP, and 0.04% (n = 1) for EP. The order of detection rates was cleanser (63%) > cream (48%) > sunscreen (46%) > lotion (38%) > oil (13%). At least one of target preservatives was contained in 50% (63/125) of samples and the content of the detected preservatives was within maximum allowed amount established by KFDA. Phenoxyethanol and benzoic acid were used more frequently than paraoxybenzoate esters (parabens) in cosmetics for children and the detected parabens was mainly the mixture of methyl paraben and propyl paraben.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2014

In this study, we developed a HPLC method for the separation and analysis of methylparaben and p-anisic acid, which are commonly used as a synthetic preservative and natural preservative, respectively. Methylparaben and p-anisic acid have same molecular weight (152.15 g/mol), similar structure and same maximum absorption wavelength (250 nm), thus they showed same retention time (RT) value (13.3 min) in HPLC experiment. We observed that two substances are separated on C18 column after methylparaben was derivatized selectively through the acetylation reaction. Instead, RT of the acetylated methylparaben was moved to 23.9 min from 13.3 min. The average retention time was $23.9{\pm}0.1min$ and peak area values was $5042882{\pm}4778$. In addition it showed a high linearity in the calibration curve with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9999658. Detection and quantitation limits were $1.47{\mu}g/mL$ and $4.44{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. In conclusion, the developed method can be useful for separation and analysis of preservatives with similar structure in cosmetic fields.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.305-310
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• 2023

This study aimed to determine the human androgen receptor (AR)-mediated endocrine disrupting potential of parabens and triclosan in food and household products using a cell-based assay in the OECD TG No.458, the 22Rv1/MMTV_GR-KO transcriptional activation assay. Four parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-) are determined as AR antagonists in OECD TG No.458. However, their AR antagonistic effects were not exhibited in the presence of the S9 hepatic fraction. Triclosan is also classified as an AR antagonist, and the AR antagonistic effect induced by triclosan significantly decreased in the presence of the phase I + II S9 fraction. Regarding the mechanism of AR antagonism induced by parabens and triclosan, the AR-mediated endocrine disrupting effects were exhibited through suppressing the translocation of ligand-bound AR to the nucleus via blocking of AR dimerization in the cytosol. These results indicate that the four parabens and triclosan have AR-mediated endocrine disrupting potential through an AR antagonistic effect via inhibiting AR dimerization; however, their endocrine disrupting effects deceased in the presence of hepatic metabolic enzymes.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.460-476
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to provide practical implications on government crisis management strategies and on the use of SNS in crisis management. Specifically, this study analyzed Ministry of Drug and Food Safety's responses to paraben toothpaste issue, media coverage of paraben toothpaste issue, and public responses to paraben toothpaste issue. Through textual analysis and the network analysis of 45 news articles and 645 tweets, this study found that Ministry used one-way communication strategy and mostly negative issues regarding Ministry's crisis response strategies were diffused via the media and Twitter. This study was meaningful in that it highlighted the importance of media relations and use of SNS in crisis management. The findings of this study provide useful implications for government officials and PR practitioners in their crisis management and communication strategy.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2015

We investigated the growth-inhibitory activities of cosmetics and their preservatives against pathogens and resident skin bacteria. Of the tested cosmetics, preservatives such as parabens, 1,2-hexanediol, phenoxyethanol-contained toner, emulsion, cream and baby cream exhibited potent antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Parabens, 1,2-hexanediol and phenoxyethanol inhibited the growth of pathogens, as well as skin-resident bacteria such as Staphilococcus epidermidis, Shigella flexneri, Enterobacter aerogenes and so on. The application of a basic cream containing phenoxyethanol to human skin was shown to disturb the skin microbiota: at the phylum level, Proteobacteria increased and at species level, 4P004125_s increased and Propionibacterium humerusii decreased. Based on these findings, parabens, 1,2-hexanediol and phenoxyethanol have antimicrobial activity and cosmetics containing phenoxyethanol may disturb skin microbiota.