Mexican researchers sought to evaluate the effects of E171 across a span of conditions in mice, including its influence on behavior, along with the effects on the colon and liver. The research, published in 2020 in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, showed that E171 promoted anxiety and induced adenomas, or noncancerous tumors, in the colon. They also found that E171 heightened goblet cells hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which is typically seen in asthma patients and triggered by smoking or external pollutants and toxins. They also noted mucins overexpression in the mice, which can be linked to cancer cell formation. 

Barium sulphate is typically described as a white, odorless powder. This white coloration is due to its crystalline structure and the arrangement of Ba^2+ and SO₄^2− ions within the compound. The brightness and consistency of this white powder are crucial for its use in various applications. For instance, in the pharmaceutical industry, barium sulphate is used as a radiopaque agent in X-ray imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. In this context, its purity and the absence of color impurities are vital for ensuring accurate imaging results.