Titanium dioxide is a mineral that’s used as a white coloring in a variety of products, including sunscreens, cosmetics, paints, and plastics. The pigment grade is also known as titanium white, pigment white 6, or CI 77891; it's the whitest and brightest of all known pigments.

Last Friday, the domestic rutile and anatase titanium dioxide new single price was stable, and the overall transaction focus of the market moved up. Titanium dioxide factory work normally, part of the output of early orders, the spot supply has increased accordingly; And buyers still have inventory digestion, the current mentality turned to wait-and-see. The volume of new orders in the market is limited.The key factors affecting the current market price change1.

Animal studies have shown that, when consumed as a food additive, titanium dioxide can induce intestinal inflammation.

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By doing so, we achieve cost reduction, increased film strength and improved fungicidal and algaecidal properties. 

Recent analyses of food-grade TiO₂ samples have found that a significant portion of particles may be within the nanoscale. These particles (also known as nanoparticles) range in size from 1 to 100 nm, where 1 nm equals 1 billionth of a metre (the width of a typical human hair is 80,000 to 100,000 nm).

Some consumer advocacy groups and health agencies — particularly, those at the Environmental Working Group — have been pushing federal officers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reconsider their existing rules on the additive, which is commonly found in processed snacks and sweets.

In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that titanium dioxide is no longer safe in foods due to the same concerns over nanoparticles. As a result, titanium dioxide is now banned as a food additive in the EU. Although studies have shown that the absorption of ingested titanium dioxide is low, evidence suggests that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can accumulate in the body over time. Health Canada deemed it safe in 2022 but noted concerns. Unlike their European counterparts, Canadian officials did not consider studies performed with titanium dioxide nanoparticles alone. 

In food, titanium dioxide is often used as an artificial color additive. Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist at the consumer health nonprofit Environmental Working Group, says titanium dioxide can generally be thought of as a paint primer – it often goes on a hard-shelled candy like Skittles before the color is added to give it a uniform shine.

Studies have been carried out with both emulsion paints and powder paints, both with clear results on how the use of Lithopone 30% reduces the appearance of algae in the paint once it has been applied (see photos). 

Furthermore, this packaging has been shown to have both antibacterial and photocatalytic activity, the latter of which reduces ultraviolet (UV) exposure (5Trusted Source, 6).

Lithopone, a chemical compound with a rich history, emerges as a vital substance in various industries. Comprising barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, this compound boasts unique properties that make it a popular choice in applications such as paints, inks, and plastics. Recognized for its exceptional opacity and brightness, lithopone significantly enhances the covering power of materials in which it is incorporated. Its inert nature and resistance to atmospheric influences contribute to its longevity in diverse formulations. As a white pigment, lithopone plays a pivotal role in achieving vibrant and enduring colors across a spectrum of products, marking it as a cornerstone in the realm of chemical compounds.

Titanium dioxide is produced in two main forms. The primary form, comprising over 98 percent of total production, is pigment grade titanium dioxide. The pigmentary form makes use of titanium dioxide’s excellent light-scattering properties in applications that require white opacity and brightness.

The global Lithopone market is highly consolidated and a major bulk of Lithopone is produced in China. Some of the major Lithopone producers include Anhui Union Titanium Enterprise Co. Ltd., Fengchen Group Co. Ltd., Henan Premtec Enterprise Corporation, Langfang Pairs Horses Chemical Co. Ltd., Natural Pigments Inc., Noah Technologies Corporation, Titanos Group, VB Technochemicals SA, Venator Materials PLC, and ZhengZhou Sino Chemical Products Co. Ltd.

Dr Peter  Dingle (BEd, BSc, PhD)

The alarming fact of this study is that it was only conducted for 100 days, I have been wearing makeup daily for at least the last fifteen years & would have eaten kilo's of lipstick in my life time - what effects has this had on my system & health??

Reacting to the report, France’s ministers of health, agriculture and economy instructed the country’s food health and safety agency, Anses, to investigate whether the additive poses a risk for human health.

The study was said to be prompted by “growing concerns that daily oral… Intake is associated with an increased risk of chronic intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis”, or cancer formation”.