For a review published in 2023 in the journal Environmental Pollution, researchers examined E171 as a possible factor promoting obesity-related metabolic disorders. Because gut microbiota play an important role in immune function maintenance and development, and because titanium dioxide as a food additive has been shown to alter gut microbiota, researchers wanted to review “the dysregulations along the gut microbiota-immune system axis after oral TiO2 exposure compared to those reported in obese or diabetic patients, and to highlight potential mechanisms by which foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles may increase the susceptibility to develop obesity-related metabolic disorders.” The study authors discovered recurrent changes in the gut microbiota composition when exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with an imbalance of intestinal symbiotic microbiota. These changes and imbalances were also reported and played a role in the development of obesity, the authors wrote. This highlights “foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles as an endocrine disruptor-like chemical promoting obesity-related disorders,” the authors concluded.
The titanium dioxide market fluctuated in the first two quarters of 2023. These pricing patterns resulted from poor demand and reduced intakes from the downstream industries. Amid the slow demand, the manufacturers were forced to reduce their outputs. With rising inflation rates, production cuts gradually increased. Given the economic downturn, the labor strikes further affected the market dynamics, thereby exerting pressure on the pricing fundamentals.
Its non-toxicity also makes it a safe option for use in paints designed for children's toys and other products where safety is paramount Its non-toxicity also makes it a safe option for use in paints designed for children's toys and other products where safety is paramountcheap barium sulphate superfine. In the plastics and rubber industries, it acts as a reinforcing agent, boosting mechanical strength and thermal stability without significantly affecting the overall cost.The cytotoxic effect was tested through the colorimetric assay employing 3′-[1-[(phenylamino) -carbonyl]−3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4‑methoxy-6-nitro) benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) by reading the absorbance at 490 nm after 3 h of incubation post treatment [28]. The absorbance is proportional to the metabolic rate of viable (live) cells.
The trend in the production of NPs is likely to lead to increasing amounts of nano-powders in the air, water and soil, which will consequently affect living organisms. Labielle et al. demonstrated that 25 % of Al(OH)3-coated TiO2 particles from sunscreens are dispersed as a stable colloid and become available to microorganisms and filter-feeders, while the remaining 75 % are probably incorporated into geogenic sediments, where they could become available to benthic fauna. Solar UV iradiation may penetrate as far as 20 m in the water column and therefore photo-activate the dispersed particles, which may have an adverse effect on various aquatic organisms.