Shampoo Ingredient Kills Rats' Brain Cells
(HealthNewsExpress, 12/6/04)

In previous experiments with rat brain cells, Elias Aizenman of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and team, demonstrated that exposure to methylisothiazolinone (MIT) at levels similar to those found in hand cream, caused neurons to die. Now these scientists report that prolonged exposure to low concentrations of this chemical, a biocide used to inhibit the development of bacteria, can cause communications between rat brain neurons to malfunction. These findings suggest that further testing needs to be done to determine whether MIT is harmful in the concentrations found in common items, like cosmetics and shampoos. Meanwhile Gerald McEwen of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association maintains that, although MIT is a biocide and therefore expected to be detrimental to cells, it poses no risk to humans in the low amounts used in household products.