Assessment of biocompatibility

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.

Titanium dioxide is produced in two main forms. The primary form, comprising over 98 percent of total production, is pigment grade titanium dioxide. The pigmentary form makes use of titanium dioxide’s excellent light-scattering properties in applications that require white opacity and brightness. The other form in which titanium dioxide is produced is as an ultrafine (nanomaterial) product. This form is selected when different properties, such as transparency and maximum ultraviolet light absorption, are required, such as in cosmetic sunscreens.

In the manufacturing industry, sometimes many products require coloring, and the ideal coloring material is lithopone. This is a product manufactured through chemical methods. It is a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide. When the product contains more zinc sulfide, its effect will be better, that is, the coloring ability will be more stable. If you want to buy high-quality lithopone, you have to understand its properties and characteristics. Today’s article will give you a detailed understanding of lithopone.

Titanium dioxide manufacturer: CHTI

Regulatory action

BaSO4 + 4C=BaS + 4CO

Apart from the cosmetics industry, the coatings and plastics industry is also expected to contribute significantly to the growth of titanium dioxide in 2023. Coatings made from titanium dioxide offer excellent hiding power, durability and weather resistance, making them ideal for outdoor applications. Demand for high-quality coatings is expected to surge as the construction and automotive industries expand. Titanium dioxide is at the forefront of providing aesthetic and protective coatings, making it an indispensable ingredient in the industry.

Production

Production

In 2017, French researchers from the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE) were among the first to examine the effects of E171 nanoparticles on the body. They fed rats a dose of 10mg of E171 per kilogram of body weight per day, which was similar to human exposure in food. The research, which was published in Scientific Reports, showed that E171 was able to traverse the intestinal barrier, pass into the bloodstream, and reach other areas of the body in rats. Researchers also found a link between immune system disorders and the absorption of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. 

JECFA previously assessed titanium dioxide at its 13^th meeting, at which time the expert committee assigned a “not specified” ADI for the additive due to an absence of significant absorption and a lack of toxicological effects in the available experimental animal and human studies. Since its original evaluation by JECFA, titanium dioxide has become a public point of contention, with its ban being introduced (and then subsequently withdrawn) in California legislation in 2023, a legal battle playing out in the EU over the additive’s ban and classification as a carcinogen in 2022, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) calling titanium dioxide unsafe. However, supporters of titanium dioxide say that claims about its dangers are founded in unreliable studies, and some recent research has supported its safety as a food additive.

Demand in the European region has been significantly boosted by higher offtakes in the furniture, building, and industrial sectors compared to Q2, after a boost in containment measures. DIY activities increased significantly as people engaged in more home renovation and building tasks during the extended period of lockdown. With the restart of Chinese shipments in the latter half of Q2 2020, supply has also remained plentiful.

The gastrointestinal tract is a complex barrier/exchange system, and is the most important route by which macromolecules can enter the body. The main absorption takes place through villi and microvilli of the epithelium of the small and large intestines, which have an overall surface of about 200 m². Already in 1922, it was recognized by Kumagai, that particles can translocate from the lumen of the intestinal tract via aggregation of intestinal lymphatic tissue (Peyer’s patch, containing M-cells (phagocytic enterocytes)). Uptake can also occur via the normal intestinal enterocytes. Solid particles, once in the sub-mucosal tissue, are able to enter both the lymphatic and blood circulation.