Titanium Dioxide in the Spotlight

Titanium dioxide is a white powdery, naturally occurring mineral composed of titanium and oxygen that is mined from the earth and further processed and purified for use in consumer products. For a century, titanium dioxide has been used in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including paints, paper, plastics, coatings, adhesives, printing inks, textiles, as well as ceramics, floor coverings, cosmetics, toothpaste, soap, pharmaceuticals, food colorants, sunscreens and catalysts. Many people know titanium dioxide because it is an active ingredient in sunscreens, which acts as a UV filter, protects the skin from sunburn, and helps increase consumer acceptance and usage.

Titanium dioxide is produced in two forms, pigment grade titanium dioxide and nanoscale titanium dioxide. The former accounts for 98% of total production, and its excellent light-scattering properties make it widely used in applications requiring white opacity and brightness. Another form of titanium dioxide is the ultrafine (nanomaterial) product, which is often used in sunscreen products due to its transparency and UV absorbing properties. In addition to being used in cosmetics as a pigment, titanium dioxide is an FDA-approved food additive that enhances the whiteness to food products, such as dairy products and candies, and adds brightness to toothpaste and some medications.

Titanium dioxide was previously controversial because the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) indicated that it is “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. It is suspected of crossing the skin barrier when applied directly to the skin. There is also concern that nanoscale titanium dioxide may cause environmental pollution, especially in aquatic ecosystems.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in cosmetics have now been evaluated by the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) and approved their use as anti-UV, with a maximum concentration of 25%. And it shows that both nano and non-nano titanium dioxide do not penetrate the skin.

Workers at titanium dioxide manufacturing plants and downstream value chain manufacturing plants where titanium dioxide is used can be exposed to titanium dioxide dust. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for titanium dioxide total dust and requires employers to limit workplace exposure below this PEL.

When titanium dioxide is included in a product, it will be clearly indicated on the product packaging in countries where the regulations require it, and it can be found under the name TITANIUM DIOXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE [NANO], CI 77891.

As a professional cosmetic analyst and developer, Creative BioMart has a powerful nanotechnology platform, providing users with a series of advanced technologies to study nanosystems in products. In addition, our high-quality cosmetic raw materials are favored by customers worldwide, such as titanium dioxide and so on. Our customers include academic institutions, industrial corporations along and brands that require bioactive/bio-functional ingredients or improved manufacturing for personal care products.
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