Other food manufacturers use titanium dioxide to absorb water and keep moisture from clumping or degrading, Paul Westerhoff, PhD, an environmental engineer at Arizona State University who researches the biological and cellular effects of titanium dioxide, told Health.
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.
Lithopone or sulphide of zinc white has been in general use for twenty years or more in many industries where a white pigment of considerable body or hiding power is required that is not subject to change like lead carbonate and has not the brittle character of zinc oxide, besides being sold at a lower figure than either of these. Nevertheless it is still comparatively new to the general painting trade. Because of our tariff protection its manufacture in this country has made great progress. Yet in spite of this and the duty imposed on it, the imports are still in excess of the quantity manufactured here. A short history of its origin will no doubt prove of interest to our readers.