Phenylmercuric propionate is used as a paint preservative. In addition, it is used as a preservative in cosmetics. It was reported, that phenylmercuric propionate used to sterilize bed lines in a hospital laundry produced contact urticarial and asthma.

Dromostanolone Propionate (known by the brand names Masteron and Drolban) was invented by Syntex in 1959. About 10 years later it was released on the American market by Lilly as brand name Drolban. The drug was first approved in the USA for use as a treatment of female breast cancer. However, the profile of side-effects included pronouncement of male characteristics in women and when more effective breast cancer treatments came to market drostanolone was gradually phased out. No longer used clinically dromostanolone propionate became very popular in the bodybuilding community. Today dromostanolone propionate remains on the list of approved medications, but it is not being manufactured or sold by pharmaceutical companies. It is still produced illegally by underground labs for use in the bodybuilding community.

Calcium propionate (E282) is a preservative, antimould and antirope agent. Calcium propionate has been widely used as a preservative in bakery and in bread. The addition of 0.3 % calcium propionate prolonged the shelf-life of salt reduced bread to 10-12 days. It is sometimes not carefully used, or a high concentration is added to preserve products. High consumption of calcium propionate can lead to several health problems. Calcium propionate is used to prevent milk fever in cows and as a feed supplement. It is considered to be safe and effective treatment given for one or two days to prevent milk fever and/or to support treatment of milk fever. Calcium propionate is generally recognized as safe by FDA when used in accordance with good manufacturing or feeding practice.