titanium dioxide in water factories

In a small study published in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2020, researchers examined the effects of several food additives, including titanium dioxide, along with artificial sweeteners and cleaning products by testing the fecal samples of 13 people. Titanium dioxide was among the samples that “induced significant shifts in microbiome community structure.”  The growth of the bacterium species belonging to C. leptum, which has been shown to decrease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, “significantly decreased in the presence of … titanium dioxide” among other additives and sweeteners tested.

...

Rutile, one of the two common natural forms of TiO2, possesses a tetragonal crystal structure that imparts it with superior chemical stability and excellent optical properties. Unlike its anatase counterpart, rutile TiO2 exhibits greater hardness and density, making it more resistant to discoloration and corrosion. This durability makes rutile particularly suitable for outdoor applications where exposure to environmental factors is inevitable.

...

While IARC listed titanium dioxide as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” they also add that “there is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of titanium dioxide.” Of the four human studies that they reviewed, only one showed a potential risk for occupational workers inhaling titanium dioxide particles and lung cancer, while the other three showed no risk for cancer at all. And it’s key to note that IARC did not assess the effects of titanium dioxide found in foods.

...