E215 (Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate)  is a chemical compound belonging to the paraben family.

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient on the European food additives list as E215, preservative.

Preservative. Any product containing organic, inorganic compounds, water, needs to be preserved from microbial contamination. Preservatives act against the development of harmful microorganisms and against oxidation of the product.

Safety

Parabens are preservative chemical compounds that have been the subject of attention in the scientific literature as possible endocrine disruptors (particularly propylparaben and butylparaben), i.e. with the possibility of damaging the hormone-producing glands in our bodies, particularly in the breasts. The 2004 study by Darbre et al. showed that parabens remain in our bodies as intact esters (2). Following this study, some of the scientific literature in 2005 and 2006 cast doubt on Darbre's conclusions and claimed they were limited. However, both the US FDA and the European SCCP authorised in 2006 the use of a single paraben in cosmetic products at a concentration of 0.4% and the use of total parabens at a concentration of 0.8%. However, there is no shortage of studies that consider the restrictions unnecessary: M. G. Kirchhof et al. in 2013 found that parabens are among the safest and most well-tolerated preservatives and that current data do not support drastic regulations or personal exposure restrictions. Darbre in 2014 published a further study in which he showed how parabens can cause DNA damage.

Parabens are components discussed and on whose safety many doubts have been raised, especially for the damage they would produce to the aquatic environment where they are discharged after use (1).

Parabens can contribute to obesity (2).

• Molecular Formula  C₉H₉NaO₃  C₉H₉O₃Na
• Molecular Weight    188.16 g/mol
• CAS   35285-68-8    
• UNII    Z0D00IVA10
• EC number    252-487-6
• Nikkaji Number    J42.047F

Synonyms :

• Sodium ethylparaben
• sodium;4-ethoxycarbonylphenolate
• Sodium Ethyl Parahydroxybenzoate
• Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, ethyl ester, sodium salt
• 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid, ethyl ester, sodium salt
• Ethylparaben sodium (NF)
• Ethylparaben, sodium salt
• EINECS 252-487-6
• Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, sodium salt
• Sodium 4-ethoxycarbonylphenoxide
• Sodium 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phenolate

References_______________________________________________________________________

(1) Terasaki M, Abe R, Makino M, Tatarazako N. Chronic toxicity of parabens and their chlorinated by-products in Ceriodaphnia dubia.  Environ Toxicol. 2013 Dec 27. doi: 10.1002/tox.21944. [Epub ahead of print]

Popa DS, Bolfa P, Kiss B, Vlase L, Păltinean R, Pop A, Cătoi C, Crişan G, Loghin F.
 Influence of Genista tinctoria L. or methylparaben on subchronic toxicity of bisphenol A in rats. Biomed Environ Sci. 2014 Feb;27(2):85-96. doi: 10.3967/bes2014.021.

(2) Hu P, Chen X, Whitener RJ, Boder ET, Jones JO, Porollo A, Chen J, Zhao L. Effects of parabens on adipocyte differentiation. Toxicol Sci. 2013 Jan;131(1):56-70. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs262. Epub 2012 Sep 5.