There are many ways we’re exposed to titanium dioxide in our everyday life. Below are the most common ways we encounter titanium dioxide. 

How can I tell if a product has titanium dioxide in it? How can I avoid the ingredient?

≥ 5 % of standard sample

1. What is titanium dioxide?

For a mini-review published in the journal Particle and Fibre Technology in 2021, scientists wanted to evaluate whether Ti02 particles contributed to the development and/or exacerbation of irritable bowel disease, and whether they altered the four elements of intestinal barrier function: the intestinal microbiota, the immune system, the mucus layer, and the epithelium. The breakdown of these four elements can contribute to autoimmune, neurological, inflammatory, infectious, and metabolic diseases. Following their review, the researchers concluded: “Data indicate that TiO2 is able to alter the four compartments of IBF and to induce a low-grade intestinal inflammation associated or not with pre-neoplastic lesions.” 

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.

2. Barite calcination method A solution of barium sulfide is prepared. The sulfuric acid and zinc oxide are reacted, purified by adding potassium permanganate and zinc powder, and compressed to obtain a zinc sulfate solution. Then, the prepared barium sulfide solution is mixed and subjected to a metathesis reaction to obtain a mixture of zinc sulfide and barium sulfate, and then the precipitate is subjected to pressure filtration, calcination, wet grinding, drying, and pulverization to obtain a zinc white product.