Fir (Abies Holophylla)

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

Fir (Abies Holophylla), also known by the names BIT, 1,2-benzisothiazol-3 (2H)-one, 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one, Benzoisothiazolin-3-one, IPX, Proxan, Proxel, Proxel PL, Nipakid BIT, Mergal BIT, is highly valued for its beauty as well as its purpose. It is particularly significant for its chemical component, one of the most common cleaning and preservative additives in industrial use, which is referred to as Benzisothiazolinone (BIT). It belongs to the group of isothiazolinones, which are broad-spectrum biocides and fungicides. BIT is used across various industrial sectors and is an important ingredient in many products that are part of everyday life.

It is a chemical that plays an important role in the preservation of many industrial products such as paints, adhesives, shampoos, cleaning products and industrial coolants. Its main advantage is its high performance at low concentrations, even under harsh operating conditions. In addition to highly effective preservation, it also prevents the formation of deposits and improves the overall performance of products. Benzisothiazolinone is also sought after for its bactericidal, fungicidal and algicidal effects, which lead to the inhibition of the proliferation of microorganisms and thus help in the prevention of product biodegradation. However, despite its wide range of industrial applications, safety must be considered as BIT can have negative impacts on human health and the environment.