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.

Overall, the Food Directorate's comprehensive review of the available science of TiO₂ as a food additive showed:

According to Procurement Resource, the second half of the year would be passive for the price trendss of Titanium Dioxide. The major entities weighing on the prices are expected to be over-supply and matured inventories, sluggish demand from the downstream paints and varnishes, and enfeebled costs of upstream processes.

1. Purity The purity of barium sulphate is essential, especially in applications such as pharmaceuticals. Suppliers should provide certifications stating the purity levels and any presence of impurities or contaminants.

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. 

Some food products will include titanium dioxide on their nutrition label. But again, it can be hard to tell for those who don't list the ingredient. 

In a study published in 2022 in the journal Particle and Fibre Technology, researchers examined the impact of maternal exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in newborn offspring mice. They found that “a chronic exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy alters the respiratory activity of offspring, characterized by an abnormally elevated rate of breathing.” Breathing was also shown to be “significantly and abnormally accelerated,” and the ability for neural circuitry to effectively adjust breathing rates was impaired. The researchers concluded: “Our findings thus demonstrate that a maternal exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy affects the normal development and operation of the respiratory centers in progeny.”

A 2022 review on past studies of titanium dioxide and rat lung cancer, for instance, said the original study was under extreme conditions and its effects were not replicated in other animal species. Additionally, the review concluded that the few studies which did directly focus on titanium dioxide's impact on humans did not end up showing any increased cancer risk.