Safety

In an early study Jani et al. administred rutile TiO₂ (500 nm) as a 0.1 ml of 2.5 % w/v suspension (12.5 mg/kg BW) to female Sprague Dawley rats, by oral gavage daily for 10 days and detected presence of particles in all the major gut associated lymphoid tissue as well as in distant organs such as the liver, spleen, lung and peritoneal tissue, but not in heart and kidney. The distribution and toxicity of nano- (25 nm, 80 nm) and submicron-sized (155 nm) TiO₂ particles were evaluated in mice administered a large, single, oral dosing (5 g/kg BW) by gavage. In the animals that were sacrificed two weeks later, ICP-MS analysis showed that the particles were retained mainly in liver, spleen, kidney, and lung tissues, indicating that they can be transported to other tissues and organs after uptake by the gastrointestinal tract. Interestingly, although an extremely high dose was administrated, no acute toxicity was observed. In groups exposed to 80 nm and 155 nm particles, histopathological changes were observed in the liver, kidney and in the brain. The biochemical serum parameters also indicated liver, kidney and cardiovascular damage and were higher in mice treated with nano-sized (25 or 80 nm) TiO₂ compared to submicron-sized (155 nm) TiO₂. However, the main weaknesses of this study are the use of extremely high single dose and insufficient characterisation of the particles.

Asia

Applications

Even if you’re not familiar with titanium dioxide in makeup, it’s quite likely you’ve seen it in sunscreens, specifically physical formulas. Titanium dioxide is beloved in cosmetics not only for the pigment and coloration it can provide but also for the way it reacts to light.

The cytotoxic effect was tested through the colorimetric assay employing 3′-[1-[(phenylamino) -carbonyl]−3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4‑methoxy-6-nitro) benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) by reading the absorbance at 490 nm after 3 h of incubation post treatment [28]. The absorbance is proportional to the metabolic rate of viable (live) cells.

≥99.0

Titanium dioxide is typically micronized and coated for use in cosmetics products. The micronizing makes this somewhat heavy-feeling ingredient easier to spread on skin, plus a bit more cosmetically elegant. Micronized titanium dioxide is much more stable and can provide better sun protection than non-micronized titanium dioxide.

Lithopone, a white pigment composed of a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, is commonly used in the leather industry as a coloring agent. Leather suppliers around the world rely on lithopone to achieve the desired color and finish on their products.

The Scientific Facts

Still, you may wonder whether it’s safe for consumption.

English name: Lithopone

lithopone supplier 30% has a lower coverage power than titanium dioxide. For this reason, lithopone supplier 30% can only partially substitute titanium dioxide, between 5 and 40%. 

Not everyone agrees, though. The European Commission banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in the European Union in 2022.

What Is Titanium Dioxide?