Benzylparaben
A paraben named in Palau's reef-toxic chemical list.
Banned in
- Palau
Where it’s restricted
Named in the law or guidance
| Location | Status | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Palau law text ↗ | In force | January 1, 2020 |
Why it’s regulated
The EU prohibited benzylparaben in cosmetic products from 30 October 2014 under Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014, which lists it in Annex II.
What the reef research says
In 2018, a survey of Kenting National Park in Taiwan detected benzylparaben in seawater and river water (Kung et al. 2018). The abstract gives no benzylparaben concentration and names methylparaben and propylparaben as the main preservatives in seawater. In a 7-day chronic test, the water flea Ceriodaphnia dubia produced fewer offspring at the lowest concentration tested, 0.04 mg/L (Terasaki et al. 2015). Nile tilapia held for eight weeks at 5 to 50 ng/L developed an antioxidant response and triglyceride accumulation, which the authors link to environmentally related levels (Lin et al. 2022). The 2008 coral bleaching study by Danovaro et al. named butylparaben, not benzylparaben.
Sources (5)
- Kung et al. 2018, Science of the Total Environment: survey of personal care products in Kenting National Park coral reef waters
- Terasaki et al. 2015, Environmental Toxicology: chronic toxicity of parabens and their chlorinated by-products in Ceriodaphnia dubia
- Lin et al. 2022, Aquatic Toxicology: toxic effects of waterborne benzylparaben on Nile tilapia
- Danovaro et al. 2008, Environmental Health Perspectives: Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Related ingredients: Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Phenoxyethanol
Last reviewed October 14, 2026.