![\"Titanium](\"https:\/\/thelibertydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Titanium-Dioxide.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy Mikaela Conley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(US RTK<\/a>)\u2014Titanium dioxide is the most widely used whitening pigment in the world and has been linked to adverse health effects, particularly genotoxicity and intestinal inflammation. It is applied as food coloring and a whitening agent to a wide variety of foods, including chewing gum, cakes, candies, breads and ice cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of health risks, France banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2020. Two years later the European Union also banned titanium dioxide as a food additive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in the U.S., titanium dioxide is found all over the grocery shelves. Candy like Skittles, Starbursts, and Jell-O, gum like Trident White peppermint gum and Mentos Freshmint Gum, cake products like Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting, and Nabisco Chips Ahoy! cookies are just a few of the myriad food items that contain the additive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A significant body of research, mostly from rodent models and in vitro studies, has linked titanium dioxide with health risks related to the gut, including intestinal inflammation, alterations to the gut microbiota, and more. It is classified by the\u00c2 International Agency for Research on Cancer<\/a>\u00c2 (IARC) in Group 2B, as possibly carcinogenic to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a food additive, titanium dioxide and its nanoparticles in particular have been associated with DNA damage and cell mutations, which in turn, have potential to cause cancer. When used as a food coloring, it is known as E171.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the rise of nanotechnology, research in recent years has also shown the dangers of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, and their genotoxicity, which refers to a chemical agent\u2019s ability to harm or damage DNA in cells, thus potentially causing cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the last several years, nanoparticles have come under scrutiny for adverse health effects. Nanoparticles are ultrafine particles between 1 to 100 nanometers in diameter. (To put this in perspective, the average human hair is around 80,000 nanometers thick.) Because of their size, which can be engineered and manipulated at the atomic or molecular level, nanoparticles exhibit unique physical, chemical, and biological properties. Titanium dioxide is one of the most commonly produced nanoparticles in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numerous studies have linked titanium dioxide to genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. Genotoxicity refers to a chemical\u2019s potential to cause DNA damage, which can, in turn, lead to cancer. Cytotoxicity is a general term that refers to a characteristic of being harmful to cells.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n French researchers studied how and where E171 nanoparticles enter the bloodstream, first studying the route through pigs and then in vitro with human buccal cells, for a 2023 study published in the journal\u00a0Nanotoxicology<\/em><\/a>. The research showed that the nanoparticles absorbed quickly through the mouth and then into the bloodstream, before damaging DNA and hindering cell regeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2016 study published in\u00a0Scientifica (Cairo)<\/em><\/a>, Egyptian researchers examined the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the organs of mice by orally administering the food additive daily, for five days. The results showed that the exposure produced \u201cmild to moderate changes in the cytoarchitecture of brain tissue in a time dependent manner.\u201d\u009d Furthermore, \u201cComet assay revealed the apoptotic DNA fragmentation, while PCR-SSCP pattern and direct sequencing showed point mutation of Presenilin 1 gene at exon 5, gene linked to inherited forms of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u201d\u009d The researchers wrote: \u201cFrom these findings, \u201cthe present study concluded that TiO2NPs is genotoxic and mutagenic to brain tissue which in turn might lead to Alzheimer\u2019s disease incidence.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For research published in 2022 study in the journal\u00a0Food and Chemical Toxicology<\/em><\/a>, scientists examined \u201cthe genotoxicity and the intracellular reactive oxygen species induction by physiologically relevant concentrations of three different TiO2 nanomaterials in Caco-2 and HT29-MTX-E12 intestinal cells, while considering the potential influence of the digestion process in the NMs\u2019 physiochemical characteristics.\u201d\u009d They found a \u201cDNA-damaging effect dependent on the nanomaterial,\u201d\u009d along with the micronucleus assay suggesting \u201ceffects on chromosomal integrity, an indicator of cancer risk, in the HT29-MTX-E12 cells, for all the tested TiO2 nanomaterials.\u201d\u009d Researchers concluded that the results showcase \u201cevidence of concern\u201d\u009d regarding titanium dioxide used as a food additive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study published in the journal\u00a0Toxicology<\/em><\/a>, researchers examined the effects of exposing human colon cancer cell line (HTC116) titanium dioxide food additives in vitro. \u201cIn the absence of cytotoxicity, E171 was accumulated in the cells after 24 hours of exposure, increasing granularity and reactive oxygen species, inducing alterations in the molecular pattern of nucleic acids and lipids, and causing nuclei enlargement, DNA damage and tubulin depolymerization,\u201d\u009d the scientists wrote. Researchers removed the additive from the culture, then examined the results 48 hours later. They found, \u201cThe removal of E171 was unable to revert the alterations found after 24 h of exposure in colon cells. In conclusion, exposure to E171 causes alterations that cannot be reverted after 48 h if E171 is removed from colon cells.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A review published in 2022 in the journal\u00a0NanoImpact<\/a>\u00a0evaluated the latest research related to genotoxic effects of titanium dioxide through\u00c2\u00a0in vivo<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0studies and\u00c2\u00a0in vitro<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0cell tests. Researchers summarized the results by stating TiO2 nanoparticles \u201ccould induce genotoxicity prior to cytotoxicity,\u201d\u009d and \u201care likely to be genotoxic to humans.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Animal studies have shown that, when consumed as a food additive, titanium dioxide can induce intestinal inflammation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2019 study published in the journal\u00a0Nanotoxicology<\/em><\/a>, researchers recreated the first phase of digestion in mice and fed them titanium dioxide, then examined whether accumulation occurred in the organs. Researchers wrote: \u201cSignificant accumulation of titanium was observed in the liver and intestine of E171-fed mice; in the latter a threefold increase in the number of TiO2 particles was also measured. Titanium accumulation in the liver was associated with necroinflammatory foci containing tissue monocytes\/macrophages. Three days after the last dose, increased superoxide production and inflammation were observed in the stomach and intestine. Overall, [this] indicates that the risk for human health associated with dietary exposure to E171 needs to be carefully considered.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A study published in the\u00a0Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 2019 sought to examine the effects of titanium dioxide on intestinal inflammation. Researchers did this by feeding rats titanium dioxide nanoparticles and found that, after the course of two to three months, the animals had lower body weights and induced intestinal inflammation. The researchers also found the nanoparticles altered gut microbiota composition and aggravated chronic colitis. The rats also experienced reduced populations of CD4+T cells (which are cells that help organize immune responses by prompting other immune cells to fight infection), regulatory T cells, and white blood cells in mesenteric lymph nodes. The researchers wrote: \u201cDietary TiO2 nanoparticles could interfere with the balance of the immune system and dynamic of gut microbiome, which may result in low-grade intestinal inflammation and aggravated immunological response to external stimulus, thus introducing potential health risk.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a mini-review published in the journal\u00a0Particle and Fibre Technology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 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: \u201cData 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.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scientists analyzed research that examined how titanium dioxide nanoparticles interact with the brain for a 2015 review published in\u00a0Nanoscale Research Letters<\/em><\/a>. The researchers wrote: \u201cOnce the TiO2 NPs are translocated into the central nervous system through [certain] pathways, they may accumulate in the brain regions. For their slow elimination rates, those NPs could remain in the brain zones for a long period, and the Ti contents would gradually increase with repeated exposure.\u201d\u009d After reviewing dozens of studies, the scientists concluded: \u201cLong-term or chronic exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles could potentially lead to the gradually increased Ti contents in the brain, which may eventually induce impairments on the neurons and glial cells and lead to CNS dysfunction as a consequence.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For research published in\u00a0Archives of Toxicology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 2020, scientists fed one group of mice a solution containing titanium dioxide for one month, and compared it to those that did not receive the additive. They found \u201cthe richness and evenness of gut microbiota were remarkably decreased and the gut microbial community compositions were significantly changed\u201d\u009d in the titanium dioxide group when compared with the control group. The tests also revealed that the titanium dioxide exposure could cause locomotor dysfunction, or mobility issues \u201cby elevating the excitement of enteric neurons, which might spread to the brain via gut-brain communication by vagal pathway.\u201d\u009d The researchers concluded: \u201cThese findings provide valuable insights into the novel mechanism of TiO2NP-induced neurotoxicity. Understanding the microbiota-gut-brain axis will provide the foundation for potential therapeutic or prevention approaches against TiO2NP-induced gut and brain-related disorders.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2020 study published in the\u00a0Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology<\/em><\/a>, researchers conducted an in vitro experiment to analyze the effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on a human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line. The scientists evaluated \u201creactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, apoptosis, cellular antioxidant response, endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy.\u201d\u009d The results showed that exposure to the nanoparticles \u201cinduced ROS generation in a dose dependent manner, with values reaching up to 10 fold those of controls. Nrf2 nuclear localization and autophagy also increased in a dose dependent manner. Apoptosis increased by 4- to 10-fold compared to the control group, depending on the dose employed.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a review published in 2023 in the journal\u00a0Environmental Pollution<\/em><\/a>, researchers examined E171 as a possible factor promoting obesity-related metabolic disorders. Because gut microbiota play an important role in immune function maintenance and development, and because titanium dioxide as a food additive has been shown to alter gut microbiota, researchers wanted to review \u201cthe dysregulations along the gut microbiota-immune system axis after oral TiO2 exposure compared to those reported in obese or diabetic patients, and to highlight potential mechanisms by which foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles may increase the susceptibility to develop obesity-related metabolic disorders.\u201d\u009d The study authors discovered recurrent changes in the gut microbiota composition when exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with an imbalance of intestinal symbiotic microbiota. These changes and imbalances were also reported and played a role in the development of obesity, the authors wrote. This highlights \u201cfoodborne TiO2 nanoparticles as an endocrine disruptor-like chemical promoting obesity-related disorders,\u201d\u009d the authors concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study published in the journal\u00a0Food and Chemical Toxicology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 2016, researchers investigated whether titanium dioxide exposure led to an increase in colorectal tumor creation in mice by using a colitis associated cancer model. By measuring tumor progression markers, the researchers found that mice given titanium dioxide experienced enhanced tumor formation in the distal colon. There was also a decrease of cells that act as a protective barrier in the colon. The researchers wrote: \u201cThese results suggest that E171 could worsen pre-existent intestinal diseases.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2017 study published in\u00a0Scientific Reports<\/em><\/a>, researchers exposed rats to human-relevant levels of E171 to examine the effects of intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis. They saw that \u201ca 100-day E171 treatment promoted colon microinflammation and initiated preneoplastic lesions while also fostering the growth of aberrant crypt foci in a chemically induced carcinogenesis model.\u201d\u009d They continued: \u201cStimulation of immune cells isolated from Peyer\u2019s Patches [which are clusters of lymphoid follicles found in the intestine] showed a decrease in Thelper (Th)-1 IFN-\u00ce\u00b3 secretion, while splenic Th1\/Th17 inflammatory responses sharply increased,\u201d\u009d researchers wrote. \u201cA 100-day titanium dioxide treatment promoted colon microinflammation and initiated preneoplastic lesions.\u201d\u009d The scientists concluded: \u201cThese data should be considered for risk assessments of the susceptibility to Th17-driven autoimmune diseases and to colorectal cancer in humans exposed to TiO2 from dietary sources.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research has shown that, when ingested as a food additive, titanium dioxide and its nanoparticles can impact, alter, and\/or damage important protective bacteria in the gut, along with the metabolic pathways of gut bacteria.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A\u00c2\u00a0 2023 study published in the journal\u00a0Environmental Research<\/em><\/a>, scientists examined the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on important gut bacteria in mice. Their results showed \u201cthe growth inhibitory effects could be associated with cell membrane damage caused by titanium dioxide nanoparticles to the bacterial strains. Metabolomics analysis showed that TiO2 NPs caused alterations in multiple metabolic pathways of gut bacteria, such as tryptophan and arginine metabolism, which were demonstrated to play crucial roles in regulating gut and host health.\u201d\u009d The researchers also found that four different neuroprotective metabolites \u201cwere significantly reduced\u201d\u009d in urine and in vitro bacteria and vivo urine samples. The researchers concluded: \u201cIncreasing evidence implies that the gut microbiome plays a profound role in regulating host metabolism. Our results illustrated that TiO2 NPs hindered the growth of four beneficial gut bacterial strains.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u00a0Frontiers in Nutrition<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 2019, found the treatment could \u201calter the release of bacterial metabolites\u00a0in vivo<\/em>\u00a0and affect the spatial distribution of commensal bacteria\u00a0in vitro<\/em>\u00a0by 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.\u201d\u009d 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 \u201cimpairs gut homeostasis which may in turn prime the host for disease development.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a small study published in the\u00a0European Journal of Nutrition<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 2020, researchers examined the effects of several food additives, including titanium dioxide, along with artificial sweeteners and cleaning products by testing the fecal samples of 13 people. Titanium dioxide was among the samples that \u201cinduced significant shifts in microbiome community structure.\u201d\u009d The growth of the bacterium species belonging to\u00a0C. leptum,\u00a0<\/em>which has been shown to decrease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease<\/a>, \u201csignificantly decreased in the presence of \u201d\u00a6 titanium dioxide\u201d\u009d among other additives and sweeteners tested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study published in the journal\u00a0Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>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 \u2014 micro-TiO2, nano-TiO2, and nano-SiO2.\u00a0 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: \u201cOur 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-\u00ce\u00baB signaling pathway was activated. These findings will raise awareness of toxicities associated with the use of food-grade TiO2 and SiO2.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2023 study published in the journal\u00a0Particle and Fibre Toxicology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0set out to examine the impact of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in mice \u201con the course and prognosis of ulcerative colitis,\u201d\u009d by creating an ulcerative colitis disease model. Researchers found that the titanium dioxide nanoparticles significantly increased the severity of colitis. They also \u201cdecreased the body weight, increased the disease activity index and colonic mucosa damage index scores, shortened the colonic length, increased the inflammatory infiltration in the colon.\u201d\u009d Researchers concluded: \u201cOral intake of TiO2 nanoparticles could affect the course of acute colitis in exacerbating the development of ulcerative colitis, prolonging the ulcerative colitis course and inhibiting ulcerative colitis recovery.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2022 study published in the\u00a0Journal of Hazardous Materials<\/em><\/a>, scientists wanted to examine the effects of titanium dioxide as a food additive on atherosclerosis in mice. (Atherosclerosis refers to a hardening of the arteries.) Researchers fed mice 40 mg\/kg of the food additive every day for 4 months, and found that it not only altered gut microbiota but also led to a significantly increased atherosclerotic lesion area, especially in animals that consumed a high-choline western diet (HCD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mexican researchers sought to evaluate the effects of E171 across a span of conditions in mice, including its influence on behavior, along with the effects on the colon and liver. The research, published in 2020 in the journal\u00a0Food and Chemical Toxicology<\/em><\/a>, showed that E171 promoted anxiety and induced adenomas, or noncancerous tumors, in the colon. They also found that E171 heightened goblet cells hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which is typically seen in asthma patients and triggered by smoking or external pollutants and toxins. They also noted mucins overexpression in the mice, which can be linked to cancer cell formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study published in 2022 in the journal\u00a0Particle and Fibre Technology<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>researchers examined the impact of maternal exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in newborn offspring mice. They found that \u201ca chronic exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy alters the respiratory activity of offspring, characterized by an abnormally elevated rate of breathing.\u201d\u009d Breathing was also shown to be \u201csignificantly and abnormally accelerated,\u201d\u009d and the ability for neural circuitry to effectively adjust breathing rates was impaired. The researchers concluded: \u201cOur findings thus demonstrate that a maternal exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy affects the normal development and operation of the respiratory centers in progeny.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2021, Chinese researchers examined the impact of E171 on lipid digestion and vitamin D3 bioaccessibility in a simulated human gastrointestinal tract model. They examined Vitamin D\u2019s bioaccessibility, or the amount it was released in the gastrointestinal tract, becoming available for absorption, and found it \u201csignificantly decreased from 80% to 74%\u201d\u009d with the addition of E171. In the experiment, E171 decreased lipid digestion dose-dependently. Researchers wrote: \u201cThe findings of this study enhance our understanding toward the potential impact of E171 on the nutritional attributes of foods for human digestion health.\u201d\u009d The study was published in the\u00a0Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry<\/em><\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a review published in 2022 in the journal\u00a0Archives of Toxicology<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>researchers found that the ingestion of E171 is a \u201ca definite health risk for consumers and their progeny.\u201d\u009d After reviewing dozens of in vivo,\u00a0<\/em>ex vivo and in vitro studies on the toxicity of E171, the researchers wrote that two facts must be noted: \u201cFirst, reprotoxicity studies show that animals of both sexes are impacted by the toxicity of these nanoparticles, underlining the importance of conducting in vivo studies using both male and female animals. Second, human exposure begins in utero via maternal-fetal transfer and continues after birth\u00a0by breastfeeding<\/em>. Children are then chronically re-exposed due to their food preferences. To be relevant to the human in vivo situation, experimental studies should therefore consider nanoparticle exposure with respect to the age or life period of the studied population.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a chemically inert inorganic compound and an insoluble white solid that occurs naturally in several minerals, including rutile, anatase, and brookite. It is created synthetically from the mineral ilmenite. It is an insoluble white solid. Anatase, when compared to brookite and routine, has the most industrial applications, but\u00a0it is the most toxic form<\/a>\u00a0of TiO2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several manufacturers of titanium dioxide as a color agent; the largest include Delaware-based Chemours (a spin-off of DuPont Chemical, UK-based Venator, Texas-based Kronos, and Connecticut-based Tronox. As a color agent, it is called Pigment White 6 (PW6), titanium white, or CI 77891.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the U.S., titanium dioxide\u00a0 is legal and used extensively as an additive in foodstuff; it is categorized as GRAS, or \u201cgenerally recognized as safe,\u201d\u00a0under U.S. FDA guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nanotoxicology \u201cfocuses on determining the adverse effects of nanomaterials on human health and the environment.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, nanoparticles have been\u00a0shown<\/a>\u00a0to accumulate in the body, particularly in organs in the\u00c2\u00a0gastrointestinal tract<\/a>, along with the\u00a0liver<\/a>,\u00a0spleen<\/a>, and\u00a0capillaries of the lungs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are commonly found in a wide-range of consumer goods, including cosmetics, sunscreens, paints and colorings, ceramics, glass, textiles, construction materials, medicine, food, food packaging, and more. In Europe, cosmetic companies are required to label products that contain nanoparticles. In the U.S., companies are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2017, French researchers from the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE) were among the first to examine the effects of E171 nanoparticles on the body. They fed rats a dose of 10mg of E171 per kilogram of body weight per day, which was similar to human exposure in food. The research, which was published in\u00a0Scientific Reports<\/em><\/a>, showed that E171 was able to traverse the intestinal barrier, pass into the bloodstream, and reach other areas of the body in rats. Researchers also found a link between immune system disorders and the absorption of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have\u00a0also been found<\/a>\u00a0in human placentae and in infant meconium, indicating its ability to be transferred from mother to fetus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2012 study published in the journal\u00a0Environmental Science & Technology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0noted that children are especially exposed to titanium dioxide because of the food that contains the food additive and is particularly marketed to children, including candy and cakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Commission\u00a0banned<\/a>\u00a0titanium dioxide as a food additive in the EU in 2022 after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted an\u00a0updated safety assessment<\/a>\u00a0of E171 and concluded the panel\u00a0could not eliminate concerns<\/a>\u00a0about its genotoxicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following a request for assessment in 2020 by the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed E171, particularly for its genotoxicity. In 2022, the agency deemed the food additive no longer safe for use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prof. Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA\u2019s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF),\u00a0wrote<\/a> of the decision: \u201cTaking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a\u00a0food additive<\/em>. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude\u00a0genotoxicity<\/em>\u00a0concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prof. Matthew Wright, chair of EFSA\u2019s working group on E171, noted: \u201cAlthough the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, on the basis of the new data and strengthened methods we could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity and consequently we could not establish a safe level for daily\u00a0intake<\/em>\u00a0of the food additive.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the EU\u2019s ban on E171, the FDA\u00a0told the Guardian<\/a>\u00a0that, based on current evidence, titanium dioxide as a food additive is safe.\u00a0 \u201cThe available safety studies do not demonstrate safety concerns connected to the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, titanium dioxide as a food additive is classified as GRAS, or \u201cgenerally recognized as safe.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FDA has not updated its general\u00a0guidance on safety assessments since 2007<\/a>. Within that time, there has been a significant increase in research on the confluence of toxicology, nanotechnology and human health. The EU updates its guidance regularly with new science available to offer proper safety assessments, with its most recent update published in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for titanium dioxide, the FDA approved titanium dioxide for use as a food additive in 1966. The last time the agency reviewed the additive\u2019s safety,\u00a0according to the Guardian<\/a>, was in 1973.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023,\u00a0California and New York proposed banning<\/a>\u00a0several food additives that are banned in Europe but legal in the United States. Titanium dioxide was among the five proposed to be banned, but in September, the additive\u00a0was removed from the list of additives<\/a>\u00a0from the California ban list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2022, a year after the EFSA recommended against the use of E171,\u00a0the Food Standards Australia New Zealand<\/a>\u00a0(FSANZ) conducted its own reassessment of titanium dioxide as a food additive. The agency concluded that titanium dioxide was indeed safe to use as a food additive. The United Kingdom and Canada came to similar conclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the how they’re trying to kill us files, meet the food additive titanium dioxide. Of course this gets your health to deteriorate so they can get you in the medical and pharmaceutical wealth transfer scheme first. But a good example of why you need to steer clear of overly processed foods because they’re full […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health"],"blocksy_meta":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Jason","author_link":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/author\/jturning\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5513"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5514,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5513\/revisions\/5514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jasonsblog.ddns.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Nanoparticles<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Studies of titanium dioxide as a food additive suggest health dangers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Inflammation of the intestines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Neurotoxicity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Promotion of obesity-related metabolic disorders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Colorectal tumors and preneoplastic lesions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Alterations in gut microbiota<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Increased severity of ulcerative colitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Atherosclerosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Promotion of noncancerous tumors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Breathing problems in offspring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Decreased Vitamin D bioaccessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Exposure to titanium dioxide in utero and in breastfeeding children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What exactly is titanium dioxide?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/u_TQk_QyHCuxA7T8oB7ZEt2epOiA7uh58JvDJuzUD2C9CsopEWPEUd44iW2xOoLh-hIpBhSmcgT1bmOmf4JiC_toYYSkmkcetQPzI-_nvcnOmq4eK9OxXb13lX5giorEuPZmzjL8w6AkbrUqTpbFcz8\")
Nanotoxicology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recent policy changes in regard to titanium dioxide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
EU ban on titanium dioxide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
EFSA Scientific Conclusion on E171<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FDA\u2019s response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
States looking to ban titanium dioxide as a food additive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Australia and New Zealand review of TiO2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Journalism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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