While the FDA maintains that the regulated use of titanium dioxide is safe, the European Food Safety Authority and some other experts warn of potential, serious health risks.
A 2022 review on past studies of titanium dioxide and rat lung cancer, for instance, said the original study was under extreme conditions and its effects were not replicated in other animal species. Additionally, the review concluded that the few studies which did directly focus on titanium dioxide's impact on humans did not end up showing any increased cancer risk.
Drivers
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is by far the most suited white pigment to obtain whiteness and hiding power in coatings, inks and plastics. This is because it has an extremely high refractive index and it does not absorb visible light. TiO2 is also readily available as particles with the right size (d ≈ 280 nm) and the right shape (more or less spherical) as well as with a variety of post-treatments.
However, the pigment is expensive, especially when the volume prices of systems are used. And, there always remains a need to develop a full-proof strategy to obtain the best results in terms of cost/performance ratio, scattering efficiency, dispersion… while using it in coating formulations. Are you searching for the same?
Explore the detailed knowledge of TiO2 pigment, its scattering efficiency, optimization, selection, etc. to achieve the best possible white color strength and hiding power in your formulations.
Other research suggests that E171 could cause harm; however, those research processes did not consider how people are typically exposed to E171. Research that adds E171 to drinking water, utilizes direct injections, or gives research animals E171 through a feeding apparatus is not replicating typical human exposure.
Used for coloring paint, ink, rubber, etc. Inorganic white pigments are widely used as white pigments in plastics such as polyolefin, vinyl resin, ABS resin, polystyrene, polycarbonate, nylon and polyformaldehyde, as well as paints and inks. It is less effective in polyurethane and amino resins, and less suitable in fluoroplastics. It is also used for coloring rubber products, papermaking, varnished cloth, oilcloth, leather, watercolor paints, paper, enamel, etc. Used as an adhesive in the production of electric beads.
≤0.4
With facilities spanning multiple continents, they offer a wide range of Anatase and Rutile grades tailored to meet customer needs With facilities spanning multiple continents, they offer a wide range of Anatase and Rutile grades tailored to meet customer needsanatase rutile supplier. Their rigorous quality control processes ensure that their products consistently meet international standards.In June 2022, Health Canada weighed in on the debate, releasing a report on the safety of titanium dioxide. Their expert panel reviewed toxicity studies, including ones involving genetic damage. The expert panel found that previous studies used different forms and properties of titanium dioxide and deliberately broke the material into smaller particles than what you would normally see in food.
Overwhelmingly, research that’s relevant to human eating patterns shows us that E171 is safe when ingested normally through foods and drugs (1,2).
In a review published in 2022 in the journal Archives of Toxicology, researchers found that the ingestion of E171 is a “a definite health risk for consumers and their progeny.” After reviewing dozens of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro studies on the toxicity of E171, the researchers wrote that two facts must be noted: “First, reprotoxicity studies show that animals of both sexes are impacted by the toxicity of these nanoparticles, underlining the importance of conducting in vivo studies using both male and female animals. Second, human exposure begins in utero via maternal-fetal transfer and continues after birth by breastfeeding. Children are then chronically re-exposed due to their food preferences. To be relevant to the human in vivo situation, experimental studies should therefore consider nanoparticle exposure with respect to the age or life period of the studied population.”
Titanium dioxide, or TiO2, will be listed on product labels, but companies are not required to list ingredient size or structure. When it is used in sunscreens to block UV light, titanium dioxide is considered an active ingredient, which means the concentration must also be listed.