Titanium Dioxide: The Controversial Ingredient in Food, Makeup, and More

Titanium dioxide is one of those confusing ingredients…

It’s not really “toxic” or “non-toxic.”

Instead, its safety seems to depend on the form and context.

So, as usual, my hope is that after reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of when titanium dioxide is safest and when it isn’t, so that you can be a smarter shopper.

Titanium Dioxide Is In Everything from Food and Makeup to Building Supplies

Titanium dioxide is used in a lot of things, including:

• makeup & cosmetics
• sunscreen
• toothpaste
• foods, candies, breads, & chewing gum (Skittles are probably the most well-known one!)
• medications
• materials like paint, flooring, plastic, paper, and adhesives

It’s also used in some random products you might not expect, like contact lenses, plastics, concrete, and tattoo ink.

What It Actually Is, and Why It’s Used

Titanium dioxide is a white powder made from a naturally occurring mineral. (It can be produced synthetically as well.)

It’s usually used to increase whiteness and/or help reflect light. It helps make toothpaste appear more white, it gives eyeshadow a brighter sheen, and it makes the color of Skittles more vibrant.

In sunscreen, it works by reflecting and scattering UV radiation away from the skin.

In medicine, it can be used to protect pills from light and heat degradation.

There Are Some Limits On Titanium Dioxide

Although titanium dioxide is approved for use in various contexts in the US, there are some limits on it.

For example, it’s limited to 0.4% as a pigment in bakery and confectionery products. In foods more generally, it’s limited to 1% of the weight of the product.

France banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in 2020. The whole European Union followed, banning it from foods in 2022. It’s still permitted in medicines for now. It’s restricted in certain cosmetics, especially powdered and spray forms.

Some other countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Qatar have also recently banned it as a food additive.

Places like California, New York, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK have re-considered the safety of titanium dioxide as a food additive in recent years, but none of these places have passed bans at the time of publication.

The Safety Concerns

The primary safety concerns with titanium dioxide are:

• intestinal inflammation and disrupted gut microbiota (which scientists have theorized could potentially play a role in obesity development as well as colon cancers)

• DNA damage and cell mutations, which can lead to cancer (it’s listed as “possibly carcinogenic to humans, Group 2B” by the IARC)

• there is also some preliminary research suggesting a potential link to Alzheimer’s disease, but more studies are needed

Most of the research on titanium dioxide comes from animal and (human) in vitro studies. However, there have also been some small studies that have looked at the impact on humans’ gut microbiome, as well as observational studies looking at people who work with titanium dioxide in an occupational setting.

In my opinion, we absolutely need more data on the safety or danger of titanium dioxide in all of its forms. For something that’s used pretty frequently in our society, we really don’t have super solid data on it, and some of the data is even contradictory. (For example, despite safety concerns referenced above, multiple observational studies have found no difference in death rates between workers with high titanium dioxide exposure and those with lower exposure. That said, obviously death is only the most extreme consequence and is not the only one we care about.)

The Risk Depends On Form and Route of Ingestion

As I mentioned earlier, titanium dioxide’s safety isn’t a simple yes or no—it depends on how we’re exposed to it. The risks vary based on:

• size (nano vs. non-nano)
• and route of exposure (breathing it in, using it on your skin, or eating it)

Nano vs. Non-Nano

A nanoparticle is particle of matter that’s 1 to 100 nanometers (nm) in diameter.

In other words: it’s a very small version of something.

(For perspective, a human hair is around 80,000 nanometers thick, on average.)

We talk about nanoparticles more and more frequently these days. Nanotechnology has become popular in the last couple of decades, with nanosilver being impregnated into our socks, to nanohydroxyapatite being used to prevent cavities, and a lot more.

Nanoparticles are not inherently “good” or “bad.” There are too many types of them to make a blanket statement like that.

Nanotechnology is being used in cancer treatment to more precisely administer therapies. I’d say that’s probably a good thing.

But then there are the nanoplastics polluting our air, water, and food. Bad thing.

One of the biggest concerns with nanoparticles is the fact that they might be able to enter cells and/or cross the blood-brain barrier. In short, nanoparticles may behave differently than non-nano particles, and therefore potentially cause changes that non-nano particles cannot (even if the substance itself is the same).

Another concern with nano-particles is the overall lack of data on them. Despite the fact that they’re relatively new in the grand scheme of things, we don’t have a great understanding of how they may or may not impact human and environmental health over time. Despite this fact, they’re being freely used in all kinds of consumer goods.

When it comes to titanium dioxide specifically, nanoparticles have shown to be more harmful in research. For example, rats exposed to high levels of “ultrafine” titanium dioxide developed lung cancer, while “fine” titanium dioxide didn’t have the same clear effect at lower doses.

So if you do use products with titanium dioxide, it might be wise to avoid or minimize nanoparticles when possible—even as a precaution.

Now let’s talk about the difference in safety depending on how you’re ingesting titanium dioxide.

Breathing It In = The Worst

The biggest risk from titanium dioxide seems to be from inhalation.

Some studies suggest that breathing in high levels of titanium dioxide dust over time may increase lung inflammation and cancer risk. This is why OSHA and other workplace safety organizations regulate exposure limits in industrial settings.

Most of the limits put in place by OSHA are determined by animal studies. As I mentioned before, human epidemiological studies on titanium dioxide exposure in occupational settings are mixed, but most of them have shown no observable difference in lung cancer rates between workers exposed to titanium dioxide at work and the general population.

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself what to make of this information, but with cancer rates being what they are, I personally would decrease my risk when possible. If you regularly work with titanium dioxide (like with powdered cosmetics or DIY projects), then you may want to wear a mask, use proper ventilation, and run an air filter.

As I discussed before, this is most important if you’re being exposed to nano-sized particles. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to determine whether or not a product is made of nano or non-nano sized particles, as there aren’t any rules stating that companies have to tell you what size particles they’re using. Don’t be afraid to reach out and get more information on a product you use regularly, and shop from brands who prioritize transparency.

When it comes to powdered cosmetics, it’s unclear whether or not the titanium dioxide in powdered foundations, blushes, etc. can actually reach the alveoli of the lungs (where oxygen exchange happens). For example, in one study, the titanium dioxide from makeup was actually released as clumps, which meant that for the most part, they weren’t small enough to reach the deepest parts of the lungs. These clumps would be more likely to settle in the upper airways and bronchial tubes. We probably still don’t want this, but the potential consequences may be different (or maybe less serious) than if those particles were to make it all the way into the lungs.

Putting It On Your Skin = Okay!

The good news is that putting titanium dioxide on your skin appears to be safe.

In fact, titanium dioxide is one of only two non-toxic options for sunscreen in the United States. (The other is zinc oxide.) It works as a physical UV blocker, sitting on the skin to reflect sunlight.

(You can download my non-toxic sunscreen guide for more info on this topic.)

More even more good news: even nano-titanium dioxide appears to not absorb through the skin. In one study, researchers put titanium dioxide of different sizes on pig skin (which is similar to human skin). They put it on both healthy and damaged (sunburnt) skin, and found that less than 1% reached the deeper layers of the skin, and none got into the fluid below the skin (which would be a sign it entered the body).

The primarily reason brands use nano-sized titanium dioxide in sunscreen is because it goes on more transparently. They’re trying to prevent that annoying thick, chalky, white cast. It also helps to blend better into the formulation as a whole. This makes for a safer, more reef-friendly sunscreen that’s still use-friendly (less greasy and more wearable).

So, when it comes to using nano versus non-nano titanium dioxide in your sunscreen, you’ll have to decide how important the particle size is for you.

Current research suggests that even nano-sized titanium dioxide is pretty safe to use topically on the skin. If you’re choosing between wearing a toxic sunscreen (with something like oxybenzone in it), not wearing sunscreen at all (because you hate the way it looks or feels), or wearing one that has nano-titanium dioxide in it—then I’d say go with the latter.

On the other hand, if you want to take the precautionary approach (more on that below) and only choose sunscreens that use non-nano ingredients, that’s great too. There are plenty of non-toxic brands that are transparent about what size particles they use.

What About Eating It?

Considering that the EU banned titanium dioxide is a food additive in 2022 but the US FDA still allows it (in certain amounts), there is quite a bit of debate about whether or not titanium dioxide is safe to eat.

There is a steadily-growing body of evidence suggesting that eating titanium dioxide nanoparticles may:

• Damage DNA and cause mutations
• Trigger inflammation in the gut
• Disrupt gut bacteria and the immune system
• Worsen conditions like colitis or promote tumor growth in the colon
• Interfere with nutrient absorption, like Vitamin D
• Accumulate in organs like the liver, intestines, and brain over time
• Cross the placenta, possibly exposing fetuses during pregnancy

The biggest problem here is that most of these health risks come from ingestion of nanoparticles.

And remember how I said that the FDA limits titanium dioxide to 1% of the weight of the product as a food additive? Well, they don’t differentiate between nano and non-nano.

Both forms are allowed, and there are no laws requiring that companies label their titanium dioxide accordingly. In other words: there’s practically no way for consumers to know whether or not the titanium dioxide found in their vanilla frosting is nano-sized or not.

Since nanoparticles appear to pose the greatest health concerns, it would be really great for food to be labeled accordingly, don’t you think?

The way I see it, if the FDA would ban nano titanium dioxide as a food additive—even if they still allowed non-nano to be used—I actually think that would be great.

Or even if they only forced companies to label their titanium dioxide as nano or non-nano, that would still be good progress!

Should You Apply the Precautionary Principle?

The problem with so many chemicals is that something we’re told was safe turns out not to be later on.

Most chemical regulation takes an “innocent until proven guilty” approach, which basically means chemicals are approved and put into the marketplace before they’re thoroughly tested for safety.

The precautionary principle, on the other hand, takes a more cautious approach. If there is reason to suspect a substance could be toxic (like if it’s shown harm in animal studies), then we avoid or minimize it until we have more information.

This is the approach the EU and a few other countries have decided to take when it comes to titanium dioxide as a food additive.

It’s also the approach I generally like to take if possible.

Personally, I’m not super concerned with titanium dioxide, especially as it compares to other toxic chemicals like PFAS, microplastics, phthalates, or heavy metals.

In other words: avoiding it is not at the top of my priority list.

However, because there is some data indicating that titanium dioxide may pose health risks, I will choose to minimize it when I can, especially when it comes to nanoparticles and things I can inhale.

For me, it’s not just about the titanium dioxide in and of itself, but how everything adds up. There are so many toxicants around me that can disrupt my gut microbiome or increasing my risk of cancer. So if I can minimize one of those things—titanium dioxide—then I want to do that.

Practical Ways You Can Minimize Risk from Titanium Dioxide

Here’s what you can do to minimize your exposure to titanium dioxide, especially the riskier forms:

• Check food labels. As I said, it’s common in candy, gum, and processed foods.
  • Sometimes it can be listed as simply “titanium dioxide,” but it can also be listed as:
    • E171
    • TiO2
    • CI 77891
    • titanium white
    • pigment white 6
    • OR it may not be listed at all. Titanium dioxide can be included under “artificial color(s)”, so if you want to be sure you’re not eating titanium dioxide, you’ll want to avoid those.

• Choose non-nano lotion sunscreen. Look for sunscreens labeled “non-nano” or opt for zinc oxide instead.
  • I would also recommend skipping the spray sunscreen if possible, and choosing lotion instead so that you’re not breathing it in.

• Be mindful of powdered products. Think about the powdered products you use—foundation, blush, setting powder, etc. You can either choose options that don’t contain titanium dioxide, or you can go with a non-powdered version. (For example, I use this blush stick instead.)
  • If you work with sprayed or powdered paints, pigments, or powdered cosmetics, use a mask to reduce exposure.

• Consider cosmetics that you might…eat. Titanium dioxide is found in a lot of lipsticks and lip liners. Even though these aren’t powdered, you might still want to avoid it because of the fact that you’re almost guaranteed to ingest some of it. Again, don’t be afraid to reach out to cosmetics brands to ask about particle size.