Add Butylphenyl Methypropionial to Your Never List
Butylphenyl Methypropionial—a chemical used as fragrance many household products—is now banned for use in products in Europe as of March 1, 2022.
We know the most about the reproductive and health problems caused by BPA, phthalates, and parabens but there are many more endocrine disruptors to pay attention to including Butylphenyl methylpropional.
This chemical can be listed as:
Lilial
Butylphenyl methylpropional (p-BMHCA)
2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde
lysmeral
lily aldehyde
This chemical of many different names can be found in many cosmetics and household cleaners and detergents.
The European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety labeled butylphenyl methylpropional as a reproductive toxin and gave companies selling products with this ingredient until March 1, 2022 to eliminate the chemical from their products.
We’re still learning a lot about the impact of endocrine disruptors on our reproductive and overall health. Regulation and monitoring of chemicals in products differs dramatically between countries and in general Europe and Canada have stricter guidelines for approval and use of chemicals in many household products than the United States. In the US, in many cases there is an assumption of safety and a burden of proof of toxicity lies in consumer watch dog groups while the FDA has some monitoring abilities their ability to remove limit chemicals or even ban products is limited.
Consumers are reassured that the ‘poison is in the dose’ and although chemicals in products can be known carcinogens or reproductive toxins the amount in a certain product is low and safe to use.
Unfortunately - we use many products with carcinogens and reproductive toxins every day and these endocrine disruptors and their impact can add up.
Since Europe often leads the way in regulation and warning of health impact of many endocrine disruptors - it’s time the US paid attention to this chemical as well. For now - you can look for this chemical in your product ingredient list and opt for options without it when you buy your next product.
Resources:
My comments on this chemical for Tyla.org
https://www.tyla.com/beauty/olaplex-butylphenyl-methylpropional-ingredient-lilial-ban-20220225
EWG.org info page
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700872-LILIAL-LILIAL/
This has some details about this ban in European cosmetics:
https://criticalcatalyst.com/butylphenyl-methylpropional-to-be-prohibited-in-cosmetics-placed-in-the-eu-market/
Detailed report from EU
https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-08/sccs_o_213_0.pdf
