While the FDA maintains that the regulated use of titanium dioxide is safe, the European Food Safety Authority and some other experts warn of potential, serious health risks.
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.”
There are many ways we’re exposed to titanium dioxide in our everyday life. Below are the most common ways we encounter titanium dioxide.
≥99.0
Lithopone B301, Lithopone B311 powder is widely used in coatings, printing ink, rubber, plastic industry, etc.
How we’re exposed to an ingredient matters greatly in terms of our long-term health.
Research shows that inhaling titanium dioxide particles in significant quantities over time can cause adverse health outcomes. Unless you work in an industrial setting, inhaling substantial amounts of titanium dioxide is highly unlikely.
See also
On November 23, 2022, the General Court of the European Union reversed the conclusion that titanium dioxide was carcinogenic and released a statement (1,2):
“First, the Commission made a manifest error in its assessment of the reliability and acceptability of the study on which the classification was based and, second, it infringed the criterion according to which that classification can relate only to a substance that has the intrinsic property to cause cancer.”
As part of our mission at CRIS we base our safety assessments on the currently available scientific evidence and consider many variables (e.g., study quality, journal of publication, etc.), even if it goes against previous conclusions. Evidence-informed decisions making is critical to ensure that the laws and regulations put into place are for the benefit of the population.
The EU General Court maintains that the scientific evidence presented wasn’t the complete picture for the ingredient, “in the present case, the requirement to base the classification of a carcinogenic substance on reliable and acceptable studies was not satisfied.”
Inflammation of the intestines
In a study published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology in 2020, researchers examined the effects of food additives titanium dioxide and silica on the intestinal tract by grouping and feeding mice three different food-grade particles — micro-TiO2, nano-TiO2, and nano-SiO2. With all three groups, researchers observed changes in the gut microbiota, particularly mucus-associated bacteria. Furthermore, all three groups experienced inflammatory damage to the intestine, but the nano-TiO2 displayed the most pronounced changes. The researchers wrote: “Our results suggest that the toxic effects on the intestine were due to reduced intestinal mucus barrier function and an increase in metabolite lipopolysaccharides which activated the expression of inflammatory factors downstream. In mice exposed to nano-TiO2, the intestinal PKC/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was activated. These findings will raise awareness of toxicities associated with the use of food-grade TiO2 and SiO2.”
Finally, research has shown that titanium dioxide nanoparticles do not pass the first layer of the skin — the stratum corneum — and are not carcinogenic (7Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).
Since then, there has been a few animal studies suggesting titanium dioxide is connected to cancer. A 2017 study in Scientific Reports, for instance, found that rats with titanium dioxide in their diet had impaired immune systems, which could contribute to autoimmune diseases and colorectal cancer.
IMARC Group’s report, titled “Lithopone Manufacturing Plant Project Report 2024: Industry Trends, Plant Setup, Machinery, Raw Materials, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue” provides a complete roadmap for setting up a lithopone manufacturing plant. It covers a comprehensive market overview to micro-level information such as unitoperations involved, raw material requirements, utility requirements, infrastructure requirements, machinery and technology requirements, manpower requirements, packaging requirements, transportation requirements, etc. The lithopone project report provides detailed insights into project economics, including capital investments, project funding, operating expenses, income and expenditure projections, fixed costs vs. variable costs, direct and indirect costs, expected ROI and net present value (NPV), profit and loss account, financial analysis, etc.
The price of Titanium Dioxide in Taiwan rose considerably throughout December 2018, reaching 3,750 USD per metric ton. The price in Taiwan is 10% higher than the average price in the previous month and 1% higher than the average price one year before. In contrast, Titanium Dioxide prices in India were flat during December 2018, and were decline when compared to the average price in the preceding yeara decline of 3% from the previous year’s price.
Bluescope Steel now specifically mention sunscreen & titanium dioxide use in their warranty so they no longer have to pay out for the damage caused by a little bit of transferred sunscreen residue.
Lithopone 30% is the perfect solution for partial substitution of TiO2 in fillers due to its very soft nature and hardly any shrinkage properties.


In the context of titanium dioxide determination, the process generally begins with the sample preparation, where a known mass of the sample containing TiO2 is dissolved or digested appropriately. The subsequent steps involve adding a precipitating agent, such as ammonium sulfate or sulfuric acid, to the prepared solution, which facilitates the formation of a titanium precipitate. This precipitate is often titanium hydroxide, which is not only insoluble but can be easily filtered out from the liquid phase.
The uses and applications of Titanium Dioxide may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Titanium Dioxide are dependent on particle sizes, surface treatment, and crystalline forms.

titanium dioxide producers factory.
Pigment White 5; CI 77115; Deckweiss (Deut.); Lithopone (Deut.); litopón (Esp.); lithopone (Fr.); lithoponio (Gr.); litopone (It.); lithopoon (Ned.); litopone (Port.); Orr's white; oleum white; Griffiths zinc white; Sterling white; Albalith; Charlton white; Ponolith; Jersey Lily white; Sunotlith; Beckton white; Zincolith


≤0.3
After drying, the sample is weighed precisely, and through stoichiometric calculations, the amount of titanium dioxide in the original sample can be determined
. The resulting calculation helps determine the gravimetric percentage of titanium dioxide present, providing manufacturers with critical information for quality control.