Relative to a lot of other things that people should be concerned about, titanium dioxide in my mind, is really low on the list. I would be more worried about some substitutes that people are using for titanium dioxide that don't have decades of research associated with it, said Westerhoff.

According to Procurement Resource, the second half of the year would be passive for the price trendss of Titanium Dioxide. The major entities weighing on the prices are expected to be over-supply and matured inventories, sluggish demand from the downstream paints and varnishes, and enfeebled costs of upstream processes.

A legal additive in the United States, titanium dioxide is used in everything from food to consumer goods and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says regulated use of the product as a color additive in food is safe within certain restrictions.

As a widely used substance with multiple applications, research is being carried out to improve the production process to reduce the levels of chemicals used and waste produced, and to recycle any by-products.