WORRYING evidence is published today in the controversial debate over whether deodorants are linked to soaring levels of breast cancer in the UK.

Scientists have detected the preservative chemical parabens - used in some underarm products, make-up and foods - in samples of breast cancer tumours.

But the cosmetics industry and cancer experts urged the public not to panic over the research.

They pointed out scientists had not found any causal link between the ingredients of the products and cancer

The possibility of chemicals in antiperspirants being linked to cancer first emerged on the Internet some years ago and has since been the subject of several studies, most notably by Dr Philippa Darbre from Reading University.

She has previously said aluminium and zirconium in cosmetics could affect hormone levels, raising the risk of cancer.

Her latest study, published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, looked at 20 human breast tumours, measuring the concentration of parabens in the tissue.

Dr Darbre's team found the chemicals were present in a form suggesting that their route of entry was topical - through the skin - rather than oral.

Dr Darbre said: "Parabens are used as preservatives in thousands of cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products, but this is the first study to show their accumulation in human tissues.

"It demonstrates if people are exposed to these chemicals, then the chemicals will accumulate in their bodies."

She added: "Their detection in human breast tumours is of concern since parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen, and oestrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumours.

"It would therefore seem especially prudent to consider whether parabens should continue to be used in such a wide range of cosmetics applied to the breast area, including antiperspirants and deodorants."

The researchers acknowledged more work needed to be done in this area, including looking at paraben levels in normal tissue.

Dr Chris Flower, from the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, pointed out 96 per cent of deodorants and antiperspirants used in the UK do not contain any parabens.

And he said those products that did contain the chemical were all within set limits, posing no danger to the public.

"We are always concerned about the safety of products so we wouldn't just dismiss this work," he said.

"We will be passing the paper on to our experts in this area to look at and evaluate it in conjunction with all the other information we have."

Dr Richard Sullivan, head of clinical programmes at Cancer Research UK, said: "Although this is an interesting study, it should be noted the sample size is very small.

"No causal relationship has ever been found between underarm cosmetics containing parabens and breast cancer.

"There is also no robust population-based evidence to suggest a link.

"Should any notional risk exist, it would be insignificant when compared to other avoidable environmental risks for the disease such as obesity."

More than 40,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Numbers increased by 12 per cent between 1995 and 2000.

Britain has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in the world and the number of cases has more than doubled in 25 years.