In short, no, research demonstrates that E171 is safe when consumed in normal situations.
Moreover, how we're exposed to an ingredient matters significantly in terms of our health and potential toxicity.
Research shows that inhaling titanium dioxide particles in significant quantities over time can cause adverse health outcomes. Unless you work in an industrial setting, inhaling substantial amounts of titanium dioxide is highly unlikely.
Research supports that applying titanium dioxide to the skin in the form of sunscreens, makeup, and other topical products does not pose a health risk.
Overwhelmingly, research that's relevant to human exposure shows us that E171 is safe when ingested normally through foods and drugs (1,2).
Again, other research suggests that E171 could cause harm; however, those research processes did not design their studies to model how people are exposed to E171. Research that adds E171 to drinking water, utilizes direct injections, or gives research animals E171 through a feeding apparatus is not replicating typical human exposure, which occurs through food and medicine consumption.
Read more in-depth about the titanium dioxide risk at go.msu.edu/8Dp5.
Characteristics of Common White Pigments
Fig. 6. AOPP measured on samples of MSSA with: A) 0.2 mg/mL P25TiO2NPs; B) 0.02 mg/mL P25TiO2NPs; C) 0.2 mg/mL VitaminB2@P25TiO2NPs; D) 0.02 mg/mL VitaminB2@P25TiO2NPs after 3 h of irradiation (red) and 6 h (blue). SD <1 (error bars too small to be seen) and p < 0.05 between C-D and A-B.
Although barium sulfate is almost completely inert, zinc sulfide degrades upon exposure to UV light, leading to darkening of the pigment. The severity of this UV reaction is dependent on a combination of two factors; how much zinc sulfide makes up the pigments formulation, and its total accumulated UV exposure. Depending on these factors Lithopone B301, Lithopone B311 powder itself may vary in shade over time, ranging from pure white all the way to grey or even black. To suppress this effect, a dopant might be used, like small amount of cobalt salts, which would be added to the formulation. This process creates cobalt-doped zinc sulfide. The cobalt salts help to stabilize zinc sulfide so it will not have as severe a reaction to UV exposure.
In a study published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology in 2020, researchers examined the effects of food additives titanium dioxide and silica on the intestinal tract by grouping and feeding mice three different food-grade particles — micro-TiO2, nano-TiO2, and nano-SiO2. With all three groups, researchers observed changes in the gut microbiota, particularly mucus-associated bacteria. Furthermore, all three groups experienced inflammatory damage to the intestine, but the nano-TiO2 displayed the most pronounced changes. The researchers wrote: “Our results suggest that the toxic effects on the intestine were due to reduced intestinal mucus barrier function and an increase in metabolite lipopolysaccharides which activated the expression of inflammatory factors downstream. In mice exposed to nano-TiO2, the intestinal PKC/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was activated. These findings will raise awareness of toxicities associated with the use of food-grade TiO2 and SiO2.”
2. Hazard identification The MSDS should outline any potential hazards associated with the handling and use of lithopone. This includes information on the physical and chemical properties of the product, as well as any potential health hazards or environmental risks.
Prof Matthew Wright, both a member of the FAF Panel and chair of EFSA’s working group on E 171, said: “Although the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, on the basis of the new data and strengthened methods we could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity and consequently we could not establish a safe level for daily intake of the food additive.”
In June 2022, Health Canada weighed in on the debate, releasing a report on the safety of titanium dioxide. Their expert panel reviewed toxicity studies, including ones involving genetic damage. The expert panel found that previous studies used different forms and properties of titanium dioxide and deliberately broke the material into smaller particles than what you would normally see in food.
It is suitable as an alternative to titanium dioxide when higher acid resistance is required, such as in adhesive joints and sealants.
Polyvinyl Butyral Resin (PVB) is a solvent Resin synthesized by the acetal reaction of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and butyraldehyde in contact with coal.
Because Pvb Resin itself contains a lot of hydroxyl groups, it can bridge with some thermosetting resins to improve the properties of chemicals and film hardness.
Because PVB resin has the above excellent characteristics, it is widely used in adhesive safety glass intermediate film of automobile and building, rust cutting primer, baking paint, wood paint, printing ink, adhesive of electronic ceramics and printed circuit board, adhesive between metal and metal, between metal and plastic, modifier of hot-melt adhesive, iron dimension waterproof processing of textile, etc. A variety of new industrial applications are also continuously developed and applied.
The general characteristics of PVB are as follows:
The appearance of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin is white spherical porous particles or powder, and its specific gravity is 1:1; However, the filling density is only 0.20 ~ 0.35g/ml.
Thermal properties
The glass transfer temperature (TG) of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin ranges from 50 ℃ of low degree of recombination to 90 ℃ of high degree of recombination; The glass transfer temperature can also be adjusted by adding an appropriate amount of Plasticizer to reduce it below 10 ℃.
Mechanical properties
The coating of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin has good water resistance, water resistance and oil resistance (it is resistant to aliphatic, mineral, animal and vegetable oils, but not to sesame oil). PVB is widely used in printing inks and coatings because it contains high hydroxyl groups and has good dispersibility to pigments.
In addition, its chemical structure contains both hydrophobic acetal and acetic ACID groups and hydrophilic hydroxyl groups, so PVB has good adhesion to glass, metal, plastic, leather and wood.
Chemical reaction
Any chemical that can react with secondary alcohol will also react with PVB. Therefore, in many applications of PVB, it is often used with thermosetting resin to bridge and harden with the hydroxyl group of PVB, so as to achieve the characteristics of chemical resistance, solvent resistance and water resistance.
Of course, films with different characteristics (such as hardness, toughness, impact resistance, etc.) can be prepared according to different types of thermosetting resin and different mixing ratio with PVB.
Safety properties
Food additive nanoparticles could negatively affect your gut health, by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton University, May 4, 2023
Application:
There is some concern regarding skin and intestinal absorption of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which are less than 100 nm in diameter.
While the conclusions of the EU expert panel were considered in this report, Health Canada's Food Directorate conducted its own comprehensive review of the available science. This included evaluating new scientific data that addressed some of the uncertainties identified by the EU expert panel and were not available at the time of their review.