Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TIO2) were found in human, animal and infant milks, reveals a study published last Wednesday in the journal Science of the Total Environment. However, titanium dioxide has been classified potential carcinogen by inhalation since 2006 in humans, prohibited by precautionary measure in food in France since 2020, then in the European Union in 2022.
Studies have shown that the ingestion of nanoparticles could cause inflammation and alterations of immunity, reproduction, neurodevelopment and DNA. But then, why is he still massively present in France?
Titanium dioxide, in its nanometric form, is one of the four most used nanomaterials in France, with more than 10,000 tonnes produced and imported each year, according to the annual declaration register of nanomaterials, “R-Nano”, managed by the National Agency for the Sanitary Safety of Food, Environment and Work (ANSES). And here is where we find it:
Makeup, solar creams, toothpaste or soaps
Followers of “Guava Girl Summer”, “Blurred Lips” and “Fishtail eyeliner”? Titanium dioxide is massively used in cosmetic products, excluding inhabitable products: make -up, solar, toothpaste, soaps. It is used for its whitening, opacifying qualities or its filtration properties of ultraviolet rays. For makeup products and solar creams, the L’Oréal group declares to use it in its products, especially in its nanometric form.
In countries where regulations require it, it appears in the list of packaging ingredients, “especially under the names Titanium Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide [NANO]CI 77891, ”specifies the brand.
Coating many drugs
Titanium dioxide remains authorized, under conditions, for the coating of drugs and food supplements, in order to whiten and opacify tablets and capsules. Alternatives are under development among industrialists.
While the European Commission was to publish its decision last February to extend the authorization of this additive or not to extend in more than 4,000 drugs available on the French market, mainly in film -coated or coated tablets and soft capsules and capsules, it had not published a response last June.
The Association of Watch and Information on the Challenges of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (Avicenn) has entered the European executive in this regard, and prepares an appeal in deficiency with the European Union court to obtain a public decision on its presence in drugs.
Plastics and building materials
This chemical compound is widely used as a white pigment for plastics and building materials. It improves whiteness, resistance to ultraviolet and durability of materials. It is found in particular in a type of plastic, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but also in tiles or wall coverings.
Paper
Titanium dioxide is used in the paper industry as a white pigment, to whiten and opacify paper. It is so used in high -end papers, such as magazines and postcards, as well as laminated or laminated boxes and packaging papers, decorative papers, cups and foldable boxes.
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Paintings, varnishes and inks
Titanium dioxide is used in paintings, varnishes and printing ink for its power of whiteness, opacity and covering power. According to the association of titanium dioxide manufacturers (TDMA), which represents the main European producers of this chemical compound, “around 95 % of the paintings are made from titanium dioxide”. This group specifies that “paintings represent around 50 % of world consumption of titanium dioxide”.
This compound is also used in “at least 91 % of ecological labeled paintings and varnishes”, at rates ranging from 3 % to 65 %, specifies a European regulation for the allocation of the ecological label to paintings and varnishes dating from 2021.
