It's also used in sunscreens as a UV filtering ingredient, helping to protect a person's skin by blocking absorption the ultraviolet light that can cause sunburn and cancer.

How to Avoid It

What is an exposure route? 

Even though it is one of the most-produced chemicals, the real and potential benefits of titanium dioxide are not without controversies. Dust inhalation may cause breathing problems. Titanium dioxide has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as an Group 2B carcinogen, a “possible carcinogen to humans,” based on studies of rats that inhaled the substance.

Characteristics of Common White Pigments

Titanium dioxide is an inert earth mineral used as a thickening, opacifying, and sunscreen ingredient in cosmetics. It protects skin from UVA and UVB radiation and is considered non-risky in terms of of skin sensitivity. Because it is gentle, titanium dioxide is a great sunscreen active for sensitive, redness-prone skin. It’s great for use around the eyes, as it is highly unlikely to cause stinging.

Sunscreens made with mineral active ingredients, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, generally score well in EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens. They provide strong sun protection with few health concerns and don’t easily break down in the sun. 

Stability and darkening:

Titanium dioxide is the most widely used whitening pigment in the world and has been linked to adverse health effects, particularly genotoxicity and intestinal inflammation. It is applied as food coloring and a whitening agent to a wide variety of foods, including chewing gum, cakes, candies, breads and ice cream. 

States looking to ban titanium dioxide as a food additive

Titanium dioxide is an essential compound in a variety of industries, from cosmetics and personal care products to coatings and plastics. Demand for this versatile chemical is expected to soar as 2023 approaches. In this blog, we will explore the potential growth and future prospects of Titanium Dioxide, shedding light on its importance in different industries.

The evidence also suggests that the toxicity of TiO₂ particles may be reduced when eaten as part of the diet. This is because proteins and other molecules in a person's diet can bind to the TiO₂ particles. This binding alters the physical and chemical properties of the particles, which influences how they interact with cells, tissues and organs.

The alarming fact of this study is that it was only conducted for 100 days, I have been wearing makeup daily for at least the last fifteen years & would have eaten kilo's of lipstick in my life time - what effects has this had on my system & health??

Reacting to the report, France’s ministers of health, agriculture and economy instructed the country’s food health and safety agency, Anses, to investigate whether the additive poses a risk for human health.

The study was said to be prompted by “growing concerns that daily oral… Intake is associated with an increased risk of chronic intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis”, or cancer formation”.

In addition to the toxic effects of TiO₂ NPs, discussed in previous chapters, these NPs have been also shown to promote photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism, resulting in the enhanced growth of spinach. It increases the absorption of light and accelerates the transfer and transformation of the light energy. It was also found that treatment with nano-sized TiO₂ significantly increased the level of antioxidant enzymes, and decreased the ROS accumulation and malonyldialdehyde content in spinach chloroplasts under visible and UV irradiation. TiO₂ NPs also increased the superoxide dismutase activity of germinating soybean, enhanced its antioxidant ability, and promoted seed germination and seedling growth.

Store in a cool, ventilated, dry warehouse. Should pay attention to heat and moisture. Store separately from acid products. Lightly load and unload during handling to prevent damage to the packaging. Packed in woven bags lined with polyethylene plastic bags, each bag has a net weight of 25kg. In case of fire, use water and various fire extinguishers to save.