METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE
Preservative
Also listed as
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
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
 | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity |
|
See products containing METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | |
About METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE: Methylisothiazolinone is the heterocyclic organic compound.
METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE has reported used in the following product types: shampoo (754); conditioner (600); hair color and bleaching (584); body wash/cleanser (358); facial cleanser (122); styling gel/lotion (96); moisturizer (80); facial moisturizer/treatment (78); bubble bath (77); exfoliant/scrub (69)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human immune system toxicant | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | ||
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity | A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases, 1991 |
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 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 | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | |
| 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 |
| 141 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environmental 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 Ingredients | METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | •Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Distinction between safe conc in leave-on and rinse-off products • • • •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | 3(2H)-ISOTHIAZOLONE, 2-METHYL- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | 2 - METHYL - 2H - ISOTHIAZOL - 3 - ONE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | •Skin Sensitizer - An agent that can induce an allergic reaction in the skin or lungs: Yes; |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | METHYL ISOTHIAZOLINONE | •Japan - concentration limit in some types of cosmetics when combined with certain other ingredient(s) |
| Du S, McLaughlin BA, Pal S, AizenmanIn E, 2002 | METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE | In-vitro study demonstrates this common biocide is highly toxic to neurons. |
| A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases, 1991 | METHYL-4-ISOTHIAZOLIN | •Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (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 HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau. |
| Open scientific literature | 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. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | A 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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