Methylisothiazolinone

Published January 14th, 2013

Methylisothiazolinone, also known as MIT, is a preservative that is commonly used in shampoo and body care products. It is a powerful biocide that helps products have a longer shelf life without being contaminated by bacteria or fungi. MIT is found in low concentrations in “rinse-off” products like shampoo, conditioners, body wash, liquid hand soap, etc.

Many baby wipe products contain Methylisothiazolinone. MIT is known to cause skin irritation and allergies. It should be avoided, particularly if you have sensitive skin. The European Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers suggested that companies limit the maximum concentration to 0.01%. However, U.S. companies are not required to follow the guideline.

MIT has also been linked to being a neurotoxin. Studies through in vitro cells have shown that MIT can cause nerve damage. Brief exposure to MIT is toxic in low concentrations during neural development, which increases the risk of seizures and visual abnormalities.

Sources:
http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/todays-chemical/2010/1/23/methylisothiazolinone.html
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/methylisothiazolinone
http://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-methylisothiazolinone-the-toxic-ingredient-that-could-cause-nerve-damage
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22245758
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=703935#jumptohere