title: Occurrence and concentrations of isothiazolinones in detergents and cosmetics in Switzerland.
abstract: In recent years, the frequency of contact allergy to isothiazolinones has increased alarmingly in Europe, but only limited data are available on concentrations of isothiazolinones in consumer products.
  
  
  
  To examine the current frequency of isothiazolinones [methylisothiazolinone (MI), methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), benzisothiazolinone (BIT), and octylisothiazolinone (OIT)] in a wide array of detergents and cosmetics relevant for the Swiss population.
  
  
  
  By means of a market survey, the occurrence of isothiazolinones was investigated in 1948 consumer products. Of these, 88 products were analysed by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry after ultrasonic extraction.
  
  
  
  Only 7.6% of all cosmetics contained isothiazolinones, but the prevalence in detergents was much higher (42.9%). The measured concentration ranges in detergents were 4.3–10, 3.5–279, 3.8–186 and 7.9 ppm (one product only) for MCI, MI, BIT, and OIT, respectively [corrected]. For cosmetics, these were 1.3-133 and 4.8 ppm (one product only) for MI and MCI, respectively.
  
  
  
  Our study has shown that high concentrations of isothiazolinones (including MI) can be found in a large variety of products, in particular in detergents. Therefore, the safe use of these preservatives should be re-evaluated by including detergents in the exposure assessment.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sottas
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: von Goetz
authors.affiliation: State Laboratory Basel-City, 4012, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hauri
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bogdal
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hungerbühler
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology; D003902:Detergents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013557:Switzerland; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003902:Detergents; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013844:Thiazoles; C011506:2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C035331:2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C011421:5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C015699:1,2-benzisothiazoline-3-one
keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; benzisothiazolinone; biocides; cosmetics; household cleaning products; market survey; methylchloroisothiazolinone; methylisothiazolinone; octylisothiazolinone; personal care products