Titanium dioxide: are there health risks?
FAQ from 11 October 2024
Changes compared to the version of 12 May 2021: Following the cancellation of the authorisation of titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2022, the FAQ have been fundamentally revised.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is produced worldwide on a scale of millions of tonnes. Most of the titanium dioxide produced is used in technical applications such as the production of colours, paints, paper and plastics. Under the designation CI 77891, the substance is contained as a white pigment in cosmetic products such as toothpaste. Titanium dioxide is also used as a filter to protect against ultraviolet radiation in sunscreens. Until 2022, titanium dioxide was also authorised as a food additive E 171. As concerns regarding a possible mutagenic effect could not be dispelled in the most recent risk assessment, the authorisation as a food additive was withdrawn in the EU on 7 February 2022.
In this document, frequently asked questions and answers on titanium dioxide and potential health risks have been compiled by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is produced worldwide on a scale of millions of tonnes. Most of the titanium dioxide produced is used in technical applications such as the production of colours, paints, paper and plastics. Under the designation CI 77891, the substance is contained as a white pigment in cosmetic products such as toothpaste. Titanium dioxide is also used as a filter to protect against ultraviolet radiation in sunscreens. Until 2022, titanium dioxide was also authorised as a food additive E 171. As concerns regarding a possible mutagenic effect could not be dispelled in the most recent risk assessment, the authorisation as a food additive was withdrawn in the EU on 7 February 2022.
In this document, frequently asked questions and answers on titanium dioxide and potential health risks have been compiled by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.