Is Titanium Dioxide Safe?

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When used in an ultrafine-grade formulation, titanium dioxide becomes transparent to light, effectively making it an absorber of UV light. And because its particles are so small in this form, titanium dioxide creates a transparent barrier that absorbs UV light.

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We've used titanium dioxide safely for decades. However, recently its safety was called into question. 
 
At CRIS, we've explored the safety of titanium dioxide for nearly half a decade, including conducting double-blind research to test the safety of food-grade titanium dioxide (E171). Our study shows that when exposed to food-grade titanium dioxide in normal conditions, research animals did not experience adverse health outcomes.
 
It's important to emphasize that in a National Institutes of Health study, experimental animals were exposed to titanium dioxide in amounts as high as 5% of their diet for a lifetime and showed no evidence of adverse effects. 
 
A handful of studies greatly influenced the decisions made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Unfortunately, these studies did not consider that titanium dioxide exposure comes from food, not drinking water. Additionally, CRIS researchers could not reproduce the adverse outcomes identified by the studies through typical food ingestion. Regardless, the EFSA banned E171 as a food ingredient and for use in other capacities in the summer of 2022.
 
In 2022, the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada maintained that the scientific evidence supports that titanium dioxide (E171) is safe for humans to use and consume.

Lithopone, C.I. Pigment White 5, is a mixture of inorganic compounds, widely used as a white pigment powder. It is composed of a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide. These insoluble compounds blend well with organic compounds and confer opacity. It was made popular by the cheap production costs, greater coverage. Related white pigments include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide (zinc white), zinc sulfide, and white lead.

The concern from animal studies is that high amounts of titanium dioxide have increased inflammation and colon tumor formation, said Dr. Johnson-Arbor. A 2021 review, meanwhile, suggested that using titanium dioxide as a food additive weakens the gut lining and worsens the progression of inflammatory bowel disease.

In recent years, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has gained immense popularity across various industries due to its excellent properties, such as high opacity, brightness, and ultraviolet light absorption. As a result, the demand for titanium dioxide has increased significantly, prompting a surge in the number of manufacturers hoping to capitalize on this booming market. While quality remains a priority, cost-effectiveness has emerged as a crucial factor for consumers, leading to a growing interest in cheap titanium dioxide manufacturers.

The whole scientific experimental design in some of these studies is‌ very flawed, Kaminski said.

The Benefits of Titanium Dioxide in Tire Production

For that reason, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has graded titanium dioxide as a food additive that consumers should seek to “avoid.” Scientists at the nonprofit nutrition and food safety watchdog group today published a new entry for titanium dioxide in its Chemical Cuisine database of food additives.