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METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE
Score:
Data: Fair
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (high), Neurotoxicity (low), Ecotoxicology (low), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| shampoo | 276 products |
| conditioner | 228 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 189 products |
| liquid hand soap | 163 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 83 products |
| facial cleanser | 33 products |
| mask | 29 products |
| bubble bath | 25 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 24 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 20 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 15 products |
| hair styling aide | 12 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 12 products |
| moisturizer | 9 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 7 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 5 products |
| body spray | 4 products |
| mascara | 3 products |
| detangler | 3 products |
| shaving cream | 3 products |
| foot cleansing | 3 products |
| hand sanitizer | 3 products |
| beard cleanser | 3 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 3 products |
| blush | 2 products |
| foundation | 2 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 2 products |
| baby shampoo | 2 products |
| 2 products | |
| hair spray | 1 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 1 products |
| makeup remover | 1 products |
| serums & essences | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| body firming lotion | 1 products |
| around-eye cream | 1 products |
| facial powder | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The European SCCS has declared that there is no safe concentration of MIT in leave-on products, and that concentrations in rinse-off products must be less than 15 parts per million | European SCCS 2014. SCCS Opinion on Methylisothiazolinone (P94) Submission II (Sensitisation only). European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_145.pdf |
| Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| Skin sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin | Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, et al 2010. Final report of the safety assessment of methylisothiazolinone. Int J Toxicol. 29(4 Suppl):187S-213S. |
| A review article reports that this substance causes contact allergies. | M D Lundov, T Krongaard, T L Menné & J D Johansen 2011. Methylisothiazolinone contact allergy: a review. The British journal of dermatology 165(6), 1178-82. |
| A case report finds 6 American children using wet wipes with MIT tested positive for MCI/MIT skin allergy. | Chang MW, Nakrani R 2014. Six children with allergic contact dermatitis to methylisothiazolinone in wet wipes (baby wipes). Pediatrics. 133(2):e434-8. |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergies | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients |
| The European SCCS has declared that there is no safe concentration of MIT in leave-on products, and that concentrations in rinse-off products must be less than 15 parts per million | European SCCS 2014. SCCS Opinion on Methylisothiazolinone (P94) Submission II (Sensitisation only). European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_145.pdf |
| 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 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| NIOSH reports that this substance is a skin irritant. | NIOSH (Cook CK, Friedman D) 1996. Health Hazard Evaluation Report, HEA 94–0402–2573. National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. |
Neurotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| In-vitro study demonstrates this common biocide is highly toxic to neurons. | Du 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. |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The US EPA reports the LC50 value is very toxic to aquatic life. | US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1998. Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) Methylisothiazolinone. EPA738-R-98-012. |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 331 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data Sources
- European SCCS 2014. SCCS Opinion on Methylisothiazolinone (P94) Submission II (Sensitisation only). European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_145.pdf
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, et al 2010. Final report of the safety assessment of methylisothiazolinone. Int J Toxicol. 29(4 Suppl):187S-213S.
- M D Lundov, T Krongaard, T L Menné & J D Johansen 2011. Methylisothiazolinone contact allergy: a review. The British journal of dermatology 165(6), 1178-82.
- Chang MW, Nakrani R 2014. Six children with allergic contact dermatitis to methylisothiazolinone in wet wipes (baby wipes). Pediatrics. 133(2):e434-8.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
- Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007.
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- NIOSH (Cook CK, Friedman D) 1996. Health Hazard Evaluation Report, HEA 94–0402–2573. National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.
- Du 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.
- US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1998. Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) Methylisothiazolinone. EPA738-R-98-012.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
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