In 2023, the demand for titanium dioxide is expected to reach new heights. One of the main drivers of this growth is the cosmetics and personal care industry. Titanium dioxide is widely used in sunscreens, skin care products and cosmetics for its excellent UV protection properties and ability to provide a smooth surface. With growing awareness of the harmful effects of UV radiation, consumers are increasingly inclined to invest in products with sun protection. This trend is expected to drive the demand for titanium dioxide over the next few years.
The evidence also suggests that the toxicity of TiO2 particles may be reduced when eaten as part of the diet. This is because proteins and other molecules in a person's diet can bind to the TiO2 particles. This binding alters the physical and chemical properties of the particles, which influences how they interact with cells, tissues and organs.
You can find more information about EFSA’s work in the area of food additives on our website
Having thus described the origin and uses of the pigment, we now come to the question, what is lithopone? It is, in short, a chemical compound usually consisting of 30.5 per cent zinc sulphide, 1.5 per cent zinc oxide and 68 per cent barium sulphate, but these proportions vary slightly in the different makes. Lithopone of this composition is sold as the highest grade, either as red seal or green seal, as it best suits the idea of the manufacturer. Many manufacturers, especially in Europe, sell and also export other brands under other seals, containing 24, 20, 18 and as little as 12 per cent of zinc sulphide with very small percentages of zinc oxide, the balance being usually barium sulphate, but sometimes certain portions of China clay or gypsum (calcium sulphate) or whiting (calcium carbonate). Such brands are not a chemical compound, but mechanical mixtures of the chemically compounded lithopone and the admixtures referred to.