title: Methylisothiazolinone in selected consumer products in Belgium: Adding fuel to the fire?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methylisothiazolinone (MI) contact allergy is severely affecting consumers with allergic contact dermatitis, owing to its presence in cosmetics, household detergents, and water-based paints, in particular. Data on the true isothiazolinone concentrations in these products are scarce, and labelling may be incorrect.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report on the MI concentrations in such products marketed in Belgium, in order to verify the accuracy of labelling (when applicable) and compliance with EU regulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty cosmetics (18 leave-on and 12 rinse-off), eight detergents and four paints were analysed for MI by the use of high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysed leave-on, and to a lesser extent the rinse-off, cosmetics, contained MI at concentrations far exceeding the permitted 100 ppm use concentration. Household detergents contained high concentrations of MI, and mislabelling occurred for both cosmetics and detergents. The (limited) data on paints are in line with the existing literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cosmetics and detergents may facilitate contact sensitization because of a (too) high MI concentration, and mislabelling may make its avoidance extremely difficult. Safer use concentrations and correct labelling should be ensured by adequate quality control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Antwerp, B-2650, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aerts
authors.affiliation: Research Group Natural Products and Food - Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meert
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals K.U. Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: Research Group Natural Products and Food - Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sighile
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Antwerp, B-2650, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Research Group Natural Products and Food - Research and Analysis (NatuRA), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apers
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000737:chemistry*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology; D003902:Detergents / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010150:Paint / Q000032:analysis*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000032:analysis*; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000592:standards*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003902:Detergents; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013844:Thiazoles; C011506:2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
keywords: benzisothiazolinone; chemical analysis; cosmetics; detergents; labelling; methylchloroisothiazolinone; methylisothiazolinone; octylisothiazolinone; paints; use concentrations