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.

We even use titanium dioxide when brushing our teeth as it’s found in many toothpastes. 

In 2016, the European Food Safety Authority, or EFSA, assessed titanium dioxide and determined that the evidence available at the time didn’t conclusively point to any health problems for consumers. 

What are the different forms of titanium dioxide in beauty and personal care products?

Separately, concerns have been raised about titanium dioxide impacting one's genetic code. This can be traced to a 2009 study which found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles caused DNA damage and genetic instability in mice. A 2022 study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology also raised concerns about the DNA-damaging effects of titanium dioxide as a food additive. The study noted that results evidenced a DNA-damaging effect, and added that there may also be impacts to chromosomal integrity, an indicator of cancer risk.

There are numerous manufacturers of titanium dioxide; the largest include Delaware-based Chemours (a spin-off of DuPont Chemical), Texas-based Kronos, and China-based Lomon Billions Group, all of which manufacture pigments for use in products like paints, coatings, and plastics. UK-based Venator is a major supplier of titanium dioxide used in food and cosmetics, along with paints, paper, plastic, and more. As a pigment, it is called Pigment White 6 (PW6), titanium white, or CI 77891. As a food additive, it is known as E171.

As mentioned above, these oxide NPs are harmful in part because both anatase and rutile forms are semiconductors and produce ROS. Particularly, P25 kind has band-gap energies estimated of 3.2 and 3.0 eV, equivalent to radiation wavelengths of approximately 388 and 414 nm, respectively. Irradiation at these wavelengths or below produces a separation of charge, resulting in a hole in the valence band and a free electron in the conduction band, due to the electron movement from the valence to conduction bands. These hole–electron pairs generate ROS when they interact with H₂O or O₂ [43,44]. It was described that they can cause an increase in ROS levels after exposure to UV-visible light [45]. The NBT assay in the studied samples showed that bare P25TiO₂NPs produce a large amount of ROS, which is drastically reduced by functionalization with vitamin B2 (Fig. 5). This vitamin, also known as riboflavin, was discovered in 1872 as a yellow fluorescent pigment, [46] but its function as an essential vitamin for humans was established more than sixty years later, and its antioxidant capacity was not studied until the end of the XX century [47,48]. This antioxidant role in cells is partially explained because the glutathione reductase enzyme (GR) requires it for good functionality. This enzyme is the one in charge of the conversion of oxidized glutathione to its reduced form which acts as a powerful inner antioxidant and can quench the ROS [49,50]. The cost of this action is that the glutathione is converted to the oxidized form and needs to be recovered by the GR. Consequently, the cells need more vitamin B2. Another glutathione action is the protection against hydroperoxide. This activity is also mediated by riboflavin. Therefore, local delivery of this vitamin seems to significantly help the cells in their fight to keep the oxidative balance, once they are exposed to high levels of ROS.

Preparation of Lithopone:

3. What is EFSA saying in its 2021 opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide as a food additive?

TiO2 is also used in the production of plastics, where it serves as a whitening agent and UV stabilizer. By incorporating TiO2 into plastic products, manufacturers can enhance their appearance, increase their lifespan, and improve their resistance to sunlight and weathering. Additionally, TiO2 helps prevent the degradation of plastic materials, ensuring that they retain their properties and performance over time.

Relative Density Among commonly used white pigments, lithopone has the smallest relative density. Among white pigments of the same mass, titanium dioxide has the largest surface area and the highest pigment volume.

At present, the equipment and manufacturing process of domestic manufacturers of polyvinyl butyral are constantly getting closer to those abroad. For example, the wonderful use of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) has occurred in the printing industry and ceramic industry. Therefore, the domestic application of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) has an obvious upward trend in recent years.

For example, in the glass industry, it is because polyvinyl butyral (PVB) has good low-temperature impact strength, windability, light transmittance, light resistance, weather resistance, sound insulation, UV insulation and other properties, so that once the laminated glass is sealed together, the glass sandwich (i.e. laminated material) will appear as a whole and look like ordinary glass. For example, in the porcelain industry, polyvinyl butyral is made into a film and used for printing paper film of ceramic (or enamel) products. First, it reduces the original glue small paper Decal process, reduces the production cycle and production cost, and second, it makes its ceramic (or enamel) patterns bright in color and smooth in texture.

With the rapid development of science and technology in recent years, more and more industries have found the characteristics of polyvinyl butyral (PVB): high strength, high toughness, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance and so on. Compared with traditional materials, polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is more and more widely used because of its larger development space and wider application fields!

Application field of polyvinyl butyral -- safety glass

The membrane made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is a special product used to manufacture safety glass and bulletproof glass. Safety glass is a special glass made of a layer of PVB diaphragm sandwiched between two layers of ordinary glass. It has good low-temperature impact strength, windability, light transmittance, light resistance, weather resistance, sound insulation, ultraviolet insulation and other properties. When subjected to strong external impact, PVB diaphragm can absorb impact energy, so that the glass will not break or prevent debris from hurting people. Moreover, the safety glass added with PVB diaphragm has the characteristics of high transparency, water resistance and aging resistance, and can be used in the environment of - 60 ℃. In addition, it can also be used as transparent material to replace plexiglass.

Application field of polyvinyl butyral -- ceramic film flower paper 

Importantly, TiO2 also has a very high refractive index (its ability to scatter light), even higher than diamond. This makes it an incredibly bright substance and an ideal material for aesthetic design use.

In conclusion, lithopone is an important white pigment that is used in a variety of industries around the world. With 30% of the world's lithopone factories located in China, the country has become a major player in the global lithopone market. Chinese manufacturers are able to produce high-quality lithopone at a competitive price, making it an attractive option for companies looking to reduce their production costs. Despite the challenges of production, China's lithium industry continues to thrive and innovate, ensuring a stable and reliable supply of this essential pigment for years to come.

Sensors

Of the products that include the additive in their labels, Thea Bourianne, senior manager at data consultant Label Insights, told Food Navigator USA in May 2021 that more than 11,000 products in the company's database of U.S. food and beverage products listed titanium dioxide as an ingredient. Non-chocolate candy led those numbers at 32%. Cupcakes and snack cakes made up 14%, followed by cookies at 8%, coated pretzels and trail mix at 7%, baking decorations at 6%, gum and mints at 4% and ice cream at 2%.

To avoid exposure to titanium dioxide, follow these recommendations:

Synthesis of vitamins@P25TiO₂NPs