Also known as: BRN 1210149, EINECS 247-500-7, UNII-DEL7T5QRPN, 2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-3-oxo-5-chloroisothiazole, CMIT (+2 more)
INCI: METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CAS 26172-55-4) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as Preservative. NOAEL 0.25 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.0015% in rinse-off cosmetics only as MCI/MI 3:1 blend; prohibited in leave-on cosmetics; 3 safety opinions reviewed (cir). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
EU Max Conc.0.0015% in rinse-off cosmetics only as MCI/MI 3:1 blend; prohibited in leave-on cosmetics
US US Statuspermitted
US NotesNo federal ban; still permitted in leave-on products. Industry self-restriction recommended. EPA-registered biocide in industrial applications.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the
Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Methylchloroisothiazolinone.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the
MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Methylchloroisothiazolinone. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
Endpoint
Value
Route
Species
Study Type
Source
NOAEL
=0.00038 mg/kg bw
dermal
human
reproductive toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=0.00038 mg/kg bw
dermal
human
reproductive toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=0.00038 mg/kg bw
dermal
human
reproductive toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=0.00038 mg/kg bw
dermal
human
reproductive toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.6 mg/kg/day
oral
rat
repeated dose toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.6 mg/kg/day
oral
rat
repeated dose toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.6 mg/kg/day
oral
rat
repeated dose toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=2.6 mg/kg/day
oral
rat
repeated dose toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=19.6 mg/kg bw
oral
rat
reproductive toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
NOAEL
=19.6 mg/kg bw
oral
rat
reproductive toxicity
SCCS_vision_codex
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 0.34 mg/m3 (oral)
cir
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 0.34 mg/m3 (inhalation)
cir
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 1.15 mg/m3 (inhalation)
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Methylchloroisothiazolinone across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
Endpoint
Value
Species
Route
Duration
Source
LEL
=4.4 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LEL
=2.8 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LEL
=5.5 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LEL
=4.3 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LEL
>39.1 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LOAEL
=11.8 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LOAEL
=8.5 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LOAEL
=16 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LOAEL
=13.4 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
LOAEL
>39.1 mg/kg-day
Rat
oral
chronic (developmental)
ToxRefDB
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
96.3%
DPRA Lys %
35.1%
KeratinoSens IC50
16.9 µM
GHS: inconclusive
Source: DPRA: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008]; KS: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008]
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category:preservative
Receptor targets:AhR (indirect)
LOEC:N/A
EU status:restricted (max 0.0015% leave-on; 0.0015% rinse-off with MCI/MI blend)
EC50/IC50: LOEC ≈ 0.3 µg/L (coagulation / hatching delay; thyroid at ≥30 µg/L); LOEC: 0.3 µg/L (developmental); 30 µg/L (thyroid); NOEC: not established mixed
thyroid disruptor
ER/AR receptor activity
ERα / AR
EC50/IC50: No significant ER/AR activity reported; LOEC: not established; NOEC: not established mixed
not active at sub-cytotoxic concentrations
E2 and T changes
Steroidogenesis
EC50/IC50: LOEC ≈ 0.3 µg/L; EC50 not calculated (overlaps with cytotoxicity); LOEC: 0.3 µg/L; NOEC: not established mixed
active (similar activity to MIT but higher cytotoxicity)
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Positive (Preservative)): max 0.10
Korea (Restricted): max 0.0015%
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (3)
Jurisdiction
Status
Max %
Product Type
CN
permitted_preservative
0.0015
Rinse-off products only
IN
permitted_preservative
0.0015
all cosmetics
AU
restricted
-
preservatives
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (5 records across 5 sources)
Type
DA %
Method
Skin Model
SCCS Ref
measured
100.0%
-
-
SCCS/0009
measured
36.2%
-
-
SCCS/0009
measured
84.5%
-
-
SCCS/0009
measured
58.7%
-
-
SCCS/0009
measured
46.6%
-
-
SCCS/0009
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
Product Category
Typical Range
Max Reported
Source
Shampoo
<0.0015
0.0015
CIR (MCI/MI combined max 0.0015%)
Additional Ingredient Properties
4 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
AntioxidantBiocideFragranceMonomersPreservativeProcessing aids not otherwise specified
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Regulated in Personal CareEU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)IFRA Fragrance Transparency ListEPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Methylchloroisothiazolinone.
IFRA Transparencyinert_ingredient; non_food_use; PesticidesArts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; EuropeArts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; Europeactive_ingredient; Europe; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticidesactive_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status:listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCEChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERSDB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
Is Methylchloroisothiazolinone allowed in the EU?
Methylchloroisothiazolinone EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.0015% in rinse-off cosmetics only as MCI/MI 3:1 blend; prohibited in leave-on cosmetics. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Methylchloroisothiazolinone do in cosmetics?
Methylchloroisothiazolinone functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 26172-55-4.
What is the NOAEL for Methylchloroisothiazolinone?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Methylchloroisothiazolinone is =0.00038 mg/kg bw based on a reproductive toxicity study via dermal route in human. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: SCCS_vision_codex.
Is Methylchloroisothiazolinone used outside cosmetics?
Methylchloroisothiazolinone also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Methylchloroisothiazolinone compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Methylchloroisothiazolinone in your formulation.