Used often to preserve cosmetics and personal care products, methylisothiazolinone or MIT, is a chemical preservative. In 2010, MIT gained popularity when news channels did a segment on sunscreens and warned consumers about certain ingredients to watch out for.  

Health Risks of MIT

MIT is known to cause skin allergies and is an immune sensitizer. In-vitro tests have shown MIT to have neuro-toxic effects on mammalian cells.

There have not been enough human studies to verify how harmful MIT is to human health, but there is also not enough evidence to prove it is safe for human health.

The EWG rates MIT as a "6" on the toxicity scale. Many manufacturers do not like the EWG and say their results are skewed and have no perspective attached to them.

In Canada, restrictions are set on use of MIT in cosmetics and personal care products. MIT must not exceed 100ppm (parts per million). Japan also restricts use of MIT when used in combination with other chemicals.

Another chemist suggests that because MIT contains a "benzyne" ring in it's chemical makeup, there is a chance it is also an endocrine disruptor. More studies will be necessary to determine human health safety of this chemical preservative.

New Piggy Paint Formula and Levels of MIT

The new formula of Piggy Paint contains only 50ppm, compared to the allowable limit of 100ppm.

At Natural e GREEN, we will not make tell you what is and is not safe, that is for you to decide. Our store's  mission is to avoid these chemical compounds and thus our decision to not carry future formulations of Piggy Paint. Should human studies be done to prove MIT is safe in low doses, we will reconsider, but for now, no such studies exist and MIT is still considered to be a toxic chemical preservative.