MIT or Methylisothiazolinone (2-methyl-1,2-thiazol-3-one or 2-Methyl-4-Isothiazolin-3-one) is a chemical compound that includes a 1,2-thazole which is a 4-isothiazolin-3-one with a methyl group on the nitrogen atom. It occurs in liquid form with a slightly yellow color or as a colorless liquid depending on concentration

It functions as a preservative, antioxidant, bactericide and biocide commonly used by the cosmetic industry in liquid soaps, shampoos and the paint industry. As a bactericide, it is used in industrial water and wastewater treatment to eliminate algae, fungus, bacteria. And also in industrial washing products, in waste water from oil wells, in paper and rubber manufacturing.

In 2005 EU legislation allowed the use of this component, which is usually together with Methylchloroisothiazolinone, at concentrations up to 100 ppm, a measure 25 times higher than previously allowed, and there has been an unprecedented global increase in allergic contact dermatitis (1).

Studies have shown that MIT is a human sensitizer, to the extent that MIT was named allergen of the year in 2013 (2).

Many cases of allergy have been established, and there is a wealth of scientific documentation on the subject (3).

In light of the exceptionally high cases of contact allergy to the preservative methylisothiazolinone, this study deemed it necessary to learn about the reactivity between methylisothiazolinone, , octylisothiazolinone, and benzisothiazolinone. The results indicate that individuals sensitized to methylisothiazolinone, may react to octylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone when exposed to sufficient concentrations (4).

"Methylisothiazolinone, studies"

Typical optimal characteristics of the commercial product Methylisothiazolinone 

Appearance	Slight yellow liquid o transparent liquid
Total actives Contents	14.0-15.0%
Chlorine	3 – 5%
pH Value	1.0-5.0
Specific gravity/25°C	1.26-1.32
Melting point	254-256 °C(lit.)
Boiling point	182.8±23.0 °C at 760 mmHg
Flash Point	64.3±22.6 °C
PSA	50.24000
Vapour Pressure	0.8±0.3 mmHg at 25°C
LogP	0.05
Index of Refraction	1.589
Safety

• Molecular Formula : C₄H₅NOS
• Molecular Weight : 115.15
• CAS : 2682-20-4
• UNII 229D0E1QFA
• EC Number: 220-239-6
• DSSTox Substance ID: DTXSID2034259
• MDL number  MFCD01742315
• PubChem Substance ID   329764182
• InChI=1S/C4H5NOS/c1-5-4(6)2-3-7-5/h2-3H,1H3
• InChl Key      BEGLCMHJXHIJLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES    CN1C(=O)C=CS1
• IUPAC   2-methyl-1,2-thiazol-3-one
• ChEBI    53620
• Beilstein   606203
• NACRES  NA.21

Synonyms :

• 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
• 2-Methyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone
• 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one MIT
• 2-Methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one
• 2-Methylisothiazole-3-one
• Beilstein Registry Number: 606203
• EC Number: 220-239-6
• MDL number: MFCD01742315
• PubChem Substance ID 329765047

References_________________________________________________________________________

(1) Venables ZC, Bourke JF, Buckley DA, Campbell F, Chowdhury MMU, Abdul-Ghaffar S, Green C, Holden CR, McFadden J, Orton D, Sabroe RA, Sansom J, Stone NM, Wakelin SH, Wilkinson SM, Johnston GA. Has the epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis due to methylisothiazolinone reached its peak? Br J Dermatol. 2017 Jul;177(1):276-278. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15016. 

(2) Castanedo-Tardana MP, Zug KA. Methylisothiazolinone. Dermatitis. 2013 Jan-Feb;24(1):2-6. doi: 10.1097/DER.0b013e31827edc73. 

Van Huizen AV, Tseng AS, Beane WS. Methylisothiazolinone toxicity and inhibition of wound healing and regeneration in planaria. Aquat Toxicol. 2017 Oct;191:226-235. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.08.013.

(3) Todberg T, Opstrup MS, Johansen JD, Hald M. Occupational facial contact dermatitis caused by methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone in a stainless steel aerosol spray. Contact Dermatitis. 2017 Sep;77(3):173-174. doi: 10.1111/cod.12773. 

Silva CA, El-Houri RB, Christensen LP, Andersen F. Contact allergy caused by methylisothiazolinone in shoe glue. Contact Dermatitis. 2017 Sep;77(3):175-176. doi: 10.1111/cod.12785.

(4) Goodier MC, Ljungberg L, Persson C, Engfeldt M, Bruze M, Warshaw EM. Allergic Contact Dermatitis From Methylisothiazolinone in Residential Wall Paint. Dermatitis. 2017 Jul/Aug;28(4):284-287. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000294.