While loose titanium dioxide presents a problem, titanium dioxide within sunscreen formulations presents a much safer option than conventional sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. However, titanium dioxide may become dangerous when it is nanoparticle size. Generally, nanoparticles can be 1000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Despite nanoparticles becoming increasingly common across industries, they have not been properly assessed for human or environmental health effects, nor are they adequately regulated. Researchers don’t quite understand the impacts nanoparticles could have on human health and the environment. However, because of their infinitesimally small size, nanoparticles may be more chemically reactive and therefore more bioavailable, and may behave differently than larger particles of the same substance; these characteristics may lead to potential damage in the human body or ecosystem.

Because of the uncertainty of the impacts of nanoparticles, Made Safe exercises the precautionary principle, meaning we avoid nanoparticles until more extensive scientific testing proves their safety.

Health advocates urge US regulators to ban common food coloring additive, by Tom Perkins, The Guardian, June 2, 2023

Animal studies show exposure to titanium dioxide is linked to immunotoxicity, inflammation and neurotoxicity. 

BaSO4 + 4C=BaS + 4CO

Overall, Chinese anatase titanium dioxide stands out as a versatile and valuable material with a wide range of applications in various industries. Its unique properties make it a popular choice for use in pigments, sunscreen, environmental remediation, and energy conversion technologies. As research into this material continues to expand, we can expect to see even more innovative uses and advancements in the field of materials science.

In a 2020 study published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, researchers conducted an in vitro experiment to analyze the effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on a human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line. The scientists evaluated “reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, apoptosis, cellular antioxidant response, endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy.” The results showed that exposure to the nanoparticles “induced ROS generation in a dose dependent manner, with values reaching up to 10 fold those of controls. Nrf2 nuclear localization and autophagy also increased in a dose dependent manner. Apoptosis increased by 4- to 10-fold compared to the control group, depending on the dose employed.”