Australian researchers examined how titanium dioxide as a food additive affected gut microbiota in mice by orally administering it in drinking water. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in 2019, found the treatment could “alter the release of bacterial metabolites in vivo and affect the spatial distribution of commensal bacteria in vitro by promoting biofilm formation. We also found reduced expression of the colonic mucin 2 gene, a key component of the intestinal mucus layer, and increased expression of the beta defensin gene, indicating that titanium dioxide significantly impacts gut homeostasis.” The changes were then linked to colonic inflammation, along with a higher expression of inflammatory cytokines, which are signal proteins that help with regulation. The researchers concluded that titanium dioxide “impairs gut homeostasis which may in turn prime the host for disease development.”

Adjustment of Tariff Rates in 2017

Titanium dioxide R-5566, a rutile titanium dioxide pigment treated with zirconium and aluminum inorganic surface and organic surface, has the characteristics of high whiteness, high gloss, high achromatic power, high weather resistance, and good dispersibility.

At the present JECFA meeting, the committee considered additional toxicological studies relevant to the safety assessment of the chemical that investigated its toxicokinetics, acute toxicity, short-term toxicity, long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as special studies addressing its short-term initiation/promotion potential for colon cancer. The experts acknowledged that a large number of toxicological studies have been conducted using test materials, including nanoparticles, having size distributions and physico-chemical properties not comparable to real-world uses of titanium dioxide as a food additive. The studies on non-representative materials were evaluated by JECFA, but the committee concluded that such studies are not relevant to the safety assessment of the additive.

In addition to controlling the reaction conditions, it is also important to carefully monitor the precipitation process to ensure that the desired precipitation percentage is achieved. This can be done through various analytical techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which can provide valuable insights into the particle size distribution, crystallinity, and purity of the titanium dioxide product.

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

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are commonly found in a wide-range of consumer goods, including cosmetics, sunscreens, paints and colorings, ceramics, glass, textiles, construction materials, medicine, food, food packaging, and more. In Europe, cosmetic companies are required to label products that contain nanoparticles. In the U.S., companies are not.

Lithopone is a white pigment composed of a mixture of barium sulfate (BaSO4) and zinc sulfide (ZnS). It is commonly used in the production of paints, plastics, rubber, and various other industrial applications. As such, manufacturers and distributors often provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to ensure the safe handling and use of the product.

Lithopone