At a glance
| Chemical family | Paraben — short-chain alkyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (ethyl ester) |
| CAS number | 120-47-8 |
| Classification | Not IARC classified. Weak estrogenic activity (weaker than propyl/butylparaben). EU SCCS concluded safe at 0.4% individually. Also approved as food preservative E214 in the EU |
| Where you encounter it | Cosmetics (moisturisers, shampoos, makeup); pharmaceuticals; food (E214 preservative); some beverages; transfers to bedding from cosmetics applied before bed |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Transfers to pillowcases and sheets from cosmetics applied before sleep. Part of the cumulative paraben exposure from multiple daily sources (food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals) |
Regulatory & certification status
| European Union | Cosmetics Regulation Annex V permits ethylparaben up to 0.4% individually, 0.8% total parabens. SCCS concluded safe at these levels. Also approved as food additive E214. Regulatory |
| United States | FDA permits parabens in cosmetics without a specific concentration limit. CIR assessed parabens as safe at up to 25% (cosmetic concentrations are typically 0.01-0.3%). FDA GRAS for food use. Regulatory |
| Canada | Health Canada permits ethylparaben in cosmetics. No specific concentration restriction. Regulatory |
| International | Not IARC classified. EU and Codex permit as food preservative. SCCS confirms safety at cosmetic use levels. Lower endocrine-disrupting concern than propyl/butylparaben. Regulatory |
What it is
Ethylparaben is the ethyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid — one of the four most commonly used parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl). The parabens are broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservatives effective against bacteria and fungi at low concentrations. Ethylparaben has been used in cosmetics since the 1920s and in food since its approval as E214. IARC has not evaluated parabens. The endocrine disruption debate around parabens centres primarily on the longer-chain members (propylparaben and butylparaben), which have stronger estrogenic activity. Ethylparaben and methylparaben have much weaker estrogenic potency — approximately 100,000 times weaker than estradiol. The EU SCCS reviewed ethylparaben and concluded it is safe at up to 0.4% in cosmetics. This contrasts with propyl and butylparaben, which the EU restricted to 0.14% in 2014.
Where it shows up in bedding
Ethylparaben enters the bedroom through cosmetics applied before sleep — night creams, moisturisers, body lotions, and pharmaceutical preparations (ointments, topical medications) that use ethylparaben as a preservative. These products transfer to pillowcases and sheets during overnight contact. Ethylparaben is also present in some fragranced personal care products (body sprays, deodorants) applied near bedtime. The quantities that transfer to bedding are trace amounts at concentrations well below the EU's 0.4% safety threshold. For most people, this exposure is of minimal concern. For paraben-free alternatives, look for products preserved with phenoxyethanol or potassium sorbate.
Citations
- SCCS (2013). Opinion on Parabens. Updated request for a scientific opinion on propyl- and butylparaben. SCCS/1514/13. Source Regulatory
- Routledge, E.J. et al. (1998). Some Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate Preservatives (Parabens) Are Estrogenic. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 153(1): 12-19. Source Peer-reviewed
- EFSA (2004). Opinion on the use of parahydroxybenzoates as food additives (E214-E219). Source Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
Is ethylparaben safe?
The EU SCCS has concluded that ethylparaben is safe at concentrations up to 0.4% in cosmetics. It has weak estrogenic activity — much weaker than the longer-chain propyl and butylparaben, which are subject to stricter limits. Ethylparaben is also approved as a food preservative (E214) in the EU. At cosmetic use concentrations, it is considered safe by all major regulatory agencies.
How is ethylparaben different from propylparaben?
Ethylparaben (C2 chain) and propylparaben (C3 chain) are structurally related parabens, but propylparaben has stronger estrogenic activity. The EU restricted propylparaben to 0.14% in cosmetics (2014) but kept ethylparaben at 0.4%. The longer the alkyl chain, the greater the estrogenic potency — this is why methyl and ethylparaben are considered lower concern.
Related compounds
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Last reviewed 2026-07-08. If you find a factual error, contact us.