No. EFSA’s role was limited to evaluating the risks linked to titanium dioxide as a food additive. This included an assessment of relevant scientific information on TiO₂, its potential toxicity, and estimates of human dietary exposure. Any legislative or regulatory decisions on the authorisations of food additives are the responsibility of the risk managers (i.e. European Commission and Member States).

The toxicity of P25TiO₂NPs under UV radiation could be even higher when combined with other usual components of sunscreens Indeed, Soler de la Vega et al. advise that combination with parabens increases the toxicity of the final cosmetic mixture [53].

In the same year (2019), the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) also delivered an opinion on possible health effects of food additive titanium dioxide, which highlighted the importance of examining immunotoxicological effects in addition to potential reprotoxicological effects.

As mentioned above, these oxide NPs are harmful in part because both anatase and rutile forms are semiconductors and produce ROS. Particularly, P25 kind has band-gap energies estimated of 3.2 and 3.0 eV, equivalent to radiation wavelengths of approximately 388 and 414 nm, respectively. Irradiation at these wavelengths or below produces a separation of charge, resulting in a hole in the valence band and a free electron in the conduction band, due to the electron movement from the valence to conduction bands. These hole–electron pairs generate ROS when they interact with H₂O or O₂ [43,44]. It was described that they can cause an increase in ROS levels after exposure to UV-visible light [45]. The NBT assay in the studied samples showed that bare P25TiO₂NPs produce a large amount of ROS, which is drastically reduced by functionalization with vitamin B2 (Fig. 5). This vitamin, also known as riboflavin, was discovered in 1872 as a yellow fluorescent pigment, [46] but its function as an essential vitamin for humans was established more than sixty years later, and its antioxidant capacity was not studied until the end of the XX century [47,48]. This antioxidant role in cells is partially explained because the glutathione reductase enzyme (GR) requires it for good functionality. This enzyme is the one in charge of the conversion of oxidized glutathione to its reduced form which acts as a powerful inner antioxidant and can quench the ROS [49,50]. The cost of this action is that the glutathione is converted to the oxidized form and needs to be recovered by the GR. Consequently, the cells need more vitamin B2. Another glutathione action is the protection against hydroperoxide. This activity is also mediated by riboflavin. Therefore, local delivery of this vitamin seems to significantly help the cells in their fight to keep the oxidative balance, once they are exposed to high levels of ROS.

Due to its light-scattering properties, small amounts of titanium dioxide are added to certain foods to enhance their white color or opacity (1Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

Additionally, the committee noted that the available data did not provide convincing evidence of genotoxicity for titanium dioxide as a food additive, but recognized the limitations in current methodologies with respect to the testing of poorly soluble particulate materials. Although there were uncertainties in the genotoxicity data, the experts took into account the fact that the additive was not carcinogenic in adequately conducted two-year studies in mice and rats at doses of up to 7,500 mg/kg BW per day for mice, and 2,500 mg/kg BW per day for rats, the highest doses tested. There was also no evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity in studies in rats at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg BW per day, the highest doses tested.  

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Still, in 2016 Skittles publicly declared it would get rid of the chemical compound in its products, according to a press release at the time from the Center for Food Safety, which called the substance harmful and potentially poisonous. But the ingredient remains, according to the lawsuit, which alleges the candy company is misleading consumers by not having eliminated titanium dioxide.

Aside from the attributes we mentioned above, titanium dioxide is known for its durability, which can create a pigment that’s extra long-lasting. On top of that, combined with other colors, titanium dioxide can instantly amplify color by providing intensity and brightness. That has made it particularly popular for foundation and lipstick formulas.

Lithopone is the re-discovered white pigment with functional properties suitable for several applications.

Let’s break the risk down further.  

China is at the forefront of the titanium dioxide industry, with manufacturers like Lomon producing high-quality products such as R996 grade titanium dioxide for the paint industry. Titanium dioxide is a crucial ingredient in paint production, as it provides opacity, brightness, and UV protection to the finished product.

The realization of neuromorphic resistive memory in TiO₂ thin films (Strukov et al., 2008) marked an important milestone in the search for bio-inspired technologies (Chua and Kang, 1976). Many research proposals urged a focus on memristivity as the common feature of two electrical models: (i) electromigration of point defects in titanium oxide systems (Baiatu et al., 1990; Jameson et al., 2007) and (ii) voltage-gated ionic channels in the membranes of biological neurons (Hodgkin and Huxley, 1952). In this regard, memristors functionally mimic the synaptic plasticity of biological neurons, and thus can be implemented in artificial and hybrid neural networks. This includes a new paradigm of future computing systems (Zidan, 2018) and biocompatible electronics such as biointerfaces and biohybrid systems (Chiolerio et al., 2017).