white precipitate of titanium dioxide factory

In a 2019 study published in the journal Nanotoxicology, researchers recreated the first phase of digestion in mice and fed them titanium dioxide, then examined whether accumulation occurred in the organs. Researchers wrote: “Significant accumulation of titanium was observed in the liver and intestine of E171-fed mice; in the latter a threefold increase in the number of TiO2 particles was also measured. Titanium accumulation in the liver was associated with necroinflammatory foci containing tissue monocytes/macrophages. Three days after the last dose, increased superoxide production and inflammation were observed in the stomach and intestine. Overall, [this] indicates that the risk for human health associated with dietary exposure to E171 needs to be carefully considered.”

...

One of the most significant impacts of TIO2 in factories is its role in photocatalysis. This process involves the acceleration of photoreaction in the presence of light and a catalyst—in this case, TIO2. By harnessing the power of sunlight or artificial UV light, TIO2 can break down organic pollutants into substances, playing a crucial role in environmental remediation efforts within industrial settings. This not only helps factories minimize their environmental footprint but also reduces the costs associated with waste treatment and disposal.

...

In order to contribute with experimental evidence that could help to achieve a better understanding of the field for future regulation, in the present work, the biocompatibility of commercial P25TiO2NPs (one type of TiO2NPs used in sunscreen formulations) and two novel functionalized P25TiO2NPs were evaluated under solar simulated irradiation. White light, generated by red, blue, and yellow LEDs, together with UV ones, was chosen to simulate the solar spectra. Functionalization of TiO2NPs was made with antioxidant vitamins in order to prevent the expected photo-initiated ROS production when nanoparticles are exposed to the simulated solar spectra. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin C were chosen to carry out the functionalization because they are water-soluble, low-cost, and are a constitutive part of biological processes. In addition, it is known that both have the potential to prevent macromolecular oxidation by ROS [23][24][25][26].

...