Titanium dioxide is a white powdery mineral composed of titanium and oxygen. It can be used for cosmetics such as sunscreen.
To determine if the product contains titanium dioxide, please refer to the ingredient list on the packaging. Its names include "titanium dioxide", "nano titanium dioxide", and "CI 77891".
Source of ingredients
In cosmetics, titanium dioxide can be used as a sunscreen or white pigment. Titanium dioxide is a white powder obtained by converting mineral compounds extracted from rocks.
Ingredient usage
Titanium dioxide is widely used in food and cosmetics, especially due to its whiteness and the effectiveness of UV sunscreen agents.
Why is it being questioned?
It is debatable whether titanium dioxide can be used as a food additive, as its impact on oral contact (or ingestion) is different from the skin application of cosmetics.
The controversy over titanium dioxide lies in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)'s statement that inhaling titanium dioxide may be a carcinogenic factor. Meanwhile, nano form titanium dioxide may be able to penetrate the skin barrier through wounds.
Finally, there is controversy over the pollution of nanoscale titanium dioxide pollution, particularly its impact on aquatic ecosystems (plankton).
