Additionally, the construction sector benefits from MBR9668’s properties. Architectural coatings that incorporate this advanced titanium dioxide ensure enhanced resistance to UV degradation, meaning buildings can maintain their visual appeal and structural integrity longer than those using inferior materials. The superior performance against fungal and algal growth in exterior paints is another advantage, making MBR9668 an attractive option for developers concerned about the maintenance and lifespan of their structures.

Lithopone 30% CAS No. 1345-05-7 / Storage method

In order to achieve the same solids content, the larger filler and the binder should be reduced if necessary.  

Both P25TiO₂NPs (with or without vitamin B2) were not found beyond the epidermis in 99% of the analyzed TEM images (Fig. 8). This is coherent with previous findings showing that nanoparticles greater than 50 nm can not penetrate the skin, even in vivo models with movement, stretching, and friction [54]. However, in one of the zones, a few nanoparticles were observed inside a hair follicle. This could be due to the follicle exposure after the localized rupture of this physical barrier when rats were shaved in order to clean the area for cream topical administration. This finding suggests that nanoparticle-based sunscreen should not be applied on recently shaved or harmed skin, in order to avoid nanoparticle skin penetration.

As early as sixty years ago, zinc sulphide was first thought of as a pigment for coloring India rubber and a patent for the process of its manufacture was issued in England. But it was not until twenty years later that zinc sulphide and its manufacture was seriously considered as a pigment for paint, and in 1874 a patent was issued for a process of manufacturing a white pigment, composed of zinc sulphide and barium sulphate, known as Charlton white, also as Orr's white enamel. This was followed in 1876 by a patent issued to a manufacturer named Griffith and the product, which was similar in character to Charlton white, was known as Griffith's patent zinc white. In 1879 another patent for a more novel process was obtained by Griffith & Cawley, the product made under this process proving the best of the series placed upon the market up to that date. After that time many new processes were patented, all, however, tending to the same object, that of producing a white pigment, composed of zinc sulphide and barium carbonate, the results, however, in many cases ending with failure.

Lithopone was discovered in the 1870s by DuPont. It was manufactured by Krebs Pigments and Chemical Company and other companies. The material came in different seals, which varied in the content of zinc sulfide. Gold seal and Bronze seals contain 40-50% zinc sulfide, offering more hiding power and strength. Although its popularity peaked around 1920, approximately 223,352 tons were produced in 1990. It is mainly used in paints, putty, and in plastics.

Food quality

No. EFSA’s role was limited to evaluating the risks linked to titanium dioxide as a food additive. This included an assessment of relevant scientific information on TiO₂, its potential toxicity, and estimates of human dietary exposure. Any legislative or regulatory decisions on the authorisations of food additives are the responsibility of the risk managers (i.e. European Commission and Member States).

6.0-8.0

Health effects

Genotoxicity Assessment 

In addition to sunscreen, titanium IV oxide is also used in the production of paints. Titanium dioxide is a popular pigment in the paint industry because of its brightness and opacity. It provides excellent coverage and durability, making it an ideal choice for exterior and interior paints. Titanium dioxide is often used in white paints, but it can also be used to create a wide range of colors by mixing it with other pigments.

“Unlike some other chemicals used in food, titanium dioxide has no nutritive, preservative, or food safety function—its use is purely cosmetic,” said CSPI principal scientist for additives and supplements, Thomas Galligan. “The prospect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles damaging DNA is concerning enough for us to recommend consumers avoid foods that have it.” 

105°C volatile matter, %

Additionally, the committee noted that the available data did not provide convincing evidence of genotoxicity for titanium dioxide as a food additive, but recognized the limitations in current methodologies with respect to the testing of poorly soluble particulate materials. Although there were uncertainties in the genotoxicity data, the experts took into account the fact that the additive was not carcinogenic in adequately conducted two-year studies in mice and rats at doses of up to 7,500 mg/kg BW per day for mice, and 2,500 mg/kg BW per day for rats, the highest doses tested. There was also no evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity in studies in rats at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg BW per day, the highest doses tested.  

This article discusses the discovery of phosphorescent lithopone on watercolor drawings by American artist John La Farge dated between 1890 and 1905 and the history of lithopone in the pigment industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite having many desirable qualities for use in white watercolor or oil paints, the development of lithopone as an artists’ pigment was hampered by its tendency to darken in sunlight. Its availability to, and adoption by, artists remain unclear, as colormen's trade catalogs were generally not explicit in describing white pigments as containing lithopone. Further, lithopone may be mistaken for lead white during visual examination and its short-lived phosphorescence can be easily missed by the uninformed observer. Phosphorescent lithopone has been documented on only one other work-to-date: a watercolor by Van Gogh. In addition to the history of lithopone's manufacture, the article details the mechanism for its phosphorescence and its identification aided by Raman spectroscopy and spectrofluorimetry.

The availability of other white pigments poses a major challenge for the Lithopone market during the forecast period. Other alternatives to Lithopone include Zinc White, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium Carbonate, Blanc Fixe, and Barytes. The use of TiO2 has reduced the commercial significance of the Lithopone in the pigments industry.

This constant high rate of ROS production leads rapidly to extreme macromolecular oxidation, here it is observed in the AOPP and MDA detected after 3 h in samples treated with bare P25TiO₂NPs (Fig. 6, Fig. 7). Macromolecular oxidation includes, among others, both protein and lipid oxidation. The ROS causes protein oxidation by direct reaction or indirect reactions with secondary by-products of oxidative stress. Protein fragmentation or cross-linkages could be produced after the oxidation of amino acid side chains and protein backbones. These and later dityrosine-containing protein products formed during excessive production of oxidants are known as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). They absorb at 340 nm and are used to estimate the damage to structural cell amino acids. Lipid oxidation is detected by the conjugation of oxidized polyunsaturated lipids with thiobarbituric acid, forming a molecule that absorbs light at 532 nm. Polyunsaturated lipids are oxidized as a result of a free-radical-mediated chain of reactions. The most exposed targets are usually membrane lipids. The macromolecular damage could represent a deadly danger if it is too extensive, and this might be the case. Moreover, it could be observed that cellular damage continues further and becomes irrevocable after 6 h and MDA could not be detected. This may be due to the fact that the lipids were completely degraded and cells were no longer viable. Lipids from the cell membrane are the most prone to oxidation. In fact, lipid peroxidation biomarkers are used to screen the oxidative body balance [51]. At the same time, AOPP values are up to 30 times higher for bare nanoparticles in comparison to the functionalized ones.