Carcinogenic breast milk? Titanium dioxide detected despite the ban

Breast milk. Similarly, rich in antibodies and adapted to the needs of the baby, is considered the healthiest food for an infant. Therefore, carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide Published on July 23 in the journal Science of the Total Environmenta French study nevertheless sowing trouble.

By analyzing different types of milk – maternal. In addition, animal and infantile – the researchers highlighted the presence of titanium dioxide, a controversial chemical compound, suspected of toxic effects and classified as possible carcinogen for humans. Similarly,

Carbon dioxide: a prohibited but omnipresent substance – Carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide. Therefore, or TIO₂, is a white powder used in many everyday consumer products. Therefore, It is omnipresent: it is found in solar creams, toothpaste, drugs, paintings, and until recently in food. Consequently,

It was notably used, under the code name E171, as a coloring in confectionery, industrial sauces or even bakery products. However, It was not until 2020 that France decided to ban it as a food additive. Meanwhile, followed by the European Union in 2022, due to serious carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide doubts about its safety.

If this decision aimed to protect consumers, it did not prevent the substance from continuing to circulate in the environment. Because titanium dioxide is not biodegradable. He persists, infiltrates the soils, the waters, and can be absorbed indirectly by the body.

Pushed analyzes on different milks – Carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide

The work carried out by a team bringing together INRAE. the CNRS, the AP-HP and the Sun Synchrotron made it possible to detect the presence of titanium dioxide particles in more than 80 % of the samples of milk analyzed.

These samples concerned both infantile powder milks. cow’s milk, goat and donkey, but also breast milk taken from ten breastfeeding women living in Île-de-France.

And the results are edifying. In these women, all analyzes have revealed traces of titanium in their milk. Even more worrying. some of them had concentrations up to 15 carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide times higher than the others, without being able to explain this disparity. This suggests that exposure to titanium dioxide is not only real. but also variable according to lifestyle, professional exhibitions or the immediate environment.

Contamination by nanoparticles

The most worrying aspect of this discovery lies in the size of the particles detected. These are mainly nanoparticles, that is to say particles of size less than 100 nanometers.

However. in this form, titanium dioxide is particularly likely to cross the biological barriers, such as that of the intestine, the placenta, or – it is now demonstrated – of the mammary gland. These nanoparticles can thus pass from blood to milk. and be ingested by the infant, at an age when his detoxification systems and his immunity are still immature.

What risks for infants?

A possible carcinogenic substance possible

carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide

According to the International Center for Research on Cancer (Circ). titanium dioxide is classified as “carcinogenic possible for humans” when it is inhaled. Studies carried out on animal models have shown that these particles. in case of ingestion, could cause chronic inflammation, oxidative stress or even disturbances of the intestinal microbiota.

In the case of infants, the impact could be amplified. Their digestive tract is under construction, their intestinal barrier is more permeable, and their metabolism is still in development.

In other words. they are particularly vulnerable to any foreign substance, especially if it is ingested repeatedly via breast or child milk. Even if the measured quantities remain low, the question of the long -term cumulative effect arises.

A cocktail effect not to be overlooked

What experts also point out is that infants are not exposed. to a single substance. In addition to titanium dioxide. they can receive carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide other nanoparticles, plastic residues, endocrine disruptors present in the environment or food containers.

This is called the “cocktail effect”: an accumulation of substances which. taken in isolation, may seem harmless, but which, together, could have deleterious effects on health.

Should we give up breastfeeding? No, the researchers respond in chorus. Breast milk remains the most complete and most suitable food for the baby. But this case underlines the urgency of better supervising the environmental exposure of pregnant. breastfeeding women, to review the manufacturing standards of certain products, and to strengthen transparency on invisible contaminants.

NAMELY

Titanium dioxide (TIO₂) was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. but its industrial use really developed from the 1920s. From the 1950s, it became a common ingredient in paintings and cosmetics, for its whitening and covering properties. In food. it is authorized as Additive under the E171 code, carcinogenic breast milk? titanium dioxide mainly used as white coloring in confectionery, sauces, chewing gums and bakery products. It was not until the early 2000s that the potential effects of its nanoparticular forms began to be seriously studied. Faced with growing doubts about its safety, France prohibits its food use in 2020, followed by the European Union in 2022. However, it is still present in other consumer products, including toothpaste, drugs or solar creams.

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