Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a bright white substance that is used primarily as a vivid colorant in a wide array of common products. It is a white inorganic compound that has been used for around 100 years in a vast number of diverse products. TiO2 is depended on for its non-toxic, non-reactive, and luminous properties, which safely heighten the whiteness and brightness of many materials. It is a fine white powder that provides a bright, white pigment. Titanium dioxide has been used for a century in a range of industrial and consumer products, including paints, coatings, adhesives, paper, plastics and rubber, printing inks, coated fabrics and textiles, as well as ceramics, floor coverings, roofing materials, cosmetics, toothpaste, soap, water treatment agents, pharmaceuticals, food colorants, automotive products, sunscreen, and catalysts.
Positive aspects of titanium dioxide:
- Provides bright, white pigment
- Protects food, beverages, supplements, and pharmaceuticals from premature degradation
- Helps define colors clearly and can prevent UV degradation in food and drugs
- Used as a pigment, sunscreen, and a thickener in cosmetic and skin care products
- Used as a base for various color paints or as a standalone ‘brilliant’ white
- Has non-toxic, non-reactive, and luminous properties
Negative aspects of titanium dioxide:
- When titanium dioxide is inhalable—as it may be when in powder form—it is considered a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
- The European Commission will ban titanium dioxide as a food additive in the European Union after Aug. 7, 2022
- Titanium dioxide nanoparticles do not appear to confer any unique health hazards
Ingredients or materials:
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2)
