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Score
Data: Fair
CAS2682-20-4
shampoo (513 products)
conditioner (373 products)
hair color and bleaching (290 products)
body wash/ cleanser (229 products)
moisturizer (74 products)
Show all 1,518 products that contain METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE.
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METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer no information
Developmental & reproductive toxicity no information
Allergies & immunotoxicityyes
Use restrictionsyes
Contamination concerns: none
Other LOW concerns: Neurotoxicity

About the ratings

EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer

Function/use(s): Preservative

About METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE: Methylisothiazolinone is a widely-used preservative; has been associated with allergic reactions. Lab studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that methylisothiazolinone may be neurotoxic.

Synonym(s): 3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE, 2-METHYL-; METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE225METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE SOLUTION; 2-METHYL-3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE; 2-METHYL-4-ISOTHIAZOLIN-3-ONE; 2-METHYL- 3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE; 2-METHYL-2H-ISOTHIAZOL-3-ONE; 3 (2H) ISOTHIAZOLONE, 2METHYL; 2-METHYL-3 (2H) -ISOTHIAZOLONE; 2-METHYL-4-ISOTHIAZOLIN-3-ONE

Allergies/immunotoxicity

type of concern product conditions reference
Known human immune system toxicant    National Library of Medicine HazMap
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence    Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence   
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity    A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases, 1991

Use restrictions

type of concern product conditions reference
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics   Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - concentration limit in some types of cosmetics when combined with certain other ingredient(s)   Japan's Standards for Cosmetics
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications   Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Neurotoxicity

type of concern product conditions reference
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells demonstrate neurotoxicity    Du S, McLaughlin BA, Pal S, AizenmanIn E, 2002

Data gaps

type of concern product conditions reference
180 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->   PubMed

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

type of concern product conditions reference
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Persistence and bioaccumulation

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
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Ecotoxicology

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications

government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsMETHYLISOTHIAZOLINONERestricted
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsMETHYLISOTHIAZOLINONEQQQ02,QQQ07; R+, D+, M+, C-, S
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List3(2H)-ISOTHIAZOLONE, 2-METHYL-,,,,,,,,,
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List2 - METHYL - 2H - ISOTHIAZOL - 3 - ONEreported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008
National Library of Medicine HazMapMETHYLISOTHIAZOLINONESS: Yes;
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsMETHYL ISOTHIAZOLINONEJapan - concentration limit in some types of cosmetics when combined with certain other ingredient(s)
Du S, McLaughlin BA, Pal S, AizenmanIn E, 2002METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONEIn-vitro study demonstrates this common biocide is highly toxic to neurons.
A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases, 1991METHYL-4-ISOTHIAZOLINImmunotoxicity Hazards: suspected

references

government/industry list/academic study reference
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsHealth Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListIFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25
National Library of Medicine HazMapNLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsJapan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
Open scientific literatureDu S, McLaughlin BA, Pal S, AizenmanIn E. 2002. In Vitro Neurotoxicity of Methylisothiazolinone, a Commonly Used Industrial and Household Biocide, Proceeds via a Zinc and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Pathway. The Journal of Neuroscience, September 1, 2002, 22(17):7408-7416.
Scorecard.org Toxicity InformationA Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html, Nordic Council of Ministers (Nordic Allergy Project). Kriteriedokumenter fra nordisk allergiprojekt - vurdering af 50 kemiske stoffers evne til at forarsage allergi, en litteraturgennemgang. Nord 1991:51. Copenhagen, 1991.

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