The dioxide of titanium is a whitening agent used in many food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Its chemical formula is TiO2. According to Chemical Society of Francethe main natural resources for obtaining this molecule are found in Brazil, China, Canada and Australia, in minerals rutile and ilmenite.
Titanium dioxide comes in micrometric or nanometric form. Its powder serves as a white pigment. We thus find the molecule of TiO2 in paints, paper, plastics, ceramics, plasters, toothpastes, sun creams, pastries, confectionery, ready meals, medicines, construction…According to thehandles10,000 tons of titanium dioxide are produced or imported into France each year.
The questions posed by TiO2 as food additive E171
On food packaging labels, this additive, which contains nanoparticles bears the name of E171. Various studies have looked at the risks of titanium dioxide consumption. For example, in 2018, a study linked titanium dioxide nanoparticles to the diabetes type 2. In 2019, another study showed that the additive E171 has an impact on the intestinal flora.
In 2017, a notice from thehandles was based on a study of toxicity in rats: oral exposure to E171 increased the risk of precancerous colorectal lesions. In its 2019 opinion, ANSES highlights the lack of solid data to certify the safety offood additive. For these reasons, the food additive E171 should be banned in France from January 2020, as reported by the website of the Ministry of Energy and Inclusive Transition. titanium dioxide would be carcinogenic by inhalation in animals, but again there is a lack of data in humans. The CIRC (International Center for Research on cancer), an instance of theWHOclassified titanium dioxide in the group of molecules “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (group 2B).
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