- Lithopone is a white pigment used in the production of paints, inks, and plastics. It is composed of a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, and is known for its high covering power and excellent weather resistance. The production of lithopone is mainly concentrated in factories in China, with approximately 28-30% of the global production capacity located in the country.
Although the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, on the basis of the new data and strengthened methods our scientists could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity and consequently they could not establish a safe level for daily intake of TiO2 as a food additive.
What are the different forms of titanium dioxide in beauty and personal care products?
Freshwater algae show low-to-moderate susceptibility to TiO2 exposure, with more pronounced toxic effects in the presence of UV irradiation. It has also been shown that nano-sized TiO2 is significantly more toxic to algae Pseudokirchneriella sub-capitata than submicron-sized TiO2. Hund-Rinke and Simon reported that UV irradiated 25 nm TiO2 NPs are more toxic to green freshwater algae Desmodesmus subspicatus than UV irradiated 50 nm particles, which is in agreement with Hartmann et al. UV irradiated TiO2 NPs also inactivated other algae species such as Anabaena, Microcystis, Melsoira and Chroococcus. It was demonstrated that smaller particles have a greater potential to penetrate the cell interior than submicron-sized particles and larger aggregates. Studies have shown that the amount of TiO2 adsorbed on algal cells can be up to 2.3 times their own weight.
Despite its many advantages, the production of lithopone is not without its challenges. The raw materials used to make lithopone, particularly zinc sulfide, can be expensive and difficult to source. In addition, the production process itself can be complex and energy-intensive, requiring specialized equipment and skilled workers to operate. As a result, lithopone manufacturers must carefully manage their operations to ensure they remain competitive in the market.


Genotoxicity refers to the ability of a chemical substance to damage DNA , the genetic material of cells. As genotoxicity may lead to carcinogenic effects, it is essential to assess the potential genotoxic effect of a substance to conclude on its safety.
There are many uses of titanium dioxide that we don't know about because they were made exempt from being on the package in 1977, said Faber, who added that nothing much has changed since – other than the FDA approving some other uses of the color additive, such as expanding the use of mica-based pearlescent pigments (prepared from titanium dioxide) as color additives in distilled spirits over recent years.
ZnSO4 + BaS + ZnS + BaSO4
5. Is EFSA banning titanium dioxide?