Titanium dioxide
The Agency’s work
What is titanium dioxide?
TiO2 is a chemical found in different forms and at different scales, from micro- to nanometric. TiO2 has properties such as chemical resistance, thermal stability and photocatalytic potential, which enables pollutants to be broken down under the action of light rays.
What products may contain titanium dioxide?
Its uses are very varied. TiO2 is therefore found in a wide variety of products, such as paints, cosmetics and construction products. It was for a long time used as a food additive (E171) in many food products such as confectionery, pastries and ready meals, but since 2020 this use is no longer authorised.
TiO2 is used in medicines for its opacifying properties or as a colouring agent. It is also found in toothpastes.
Nanoscale TiO2 is one of the four most widely used nanomaterials in France, with more than 10,000 tonnes of TiO2 produced or imported every year, according to the annual reporting register for nanomaterials (R-Nano) managed by ANSES.
What are the potential health effects of titanium dioxide?
The ability of TiO2 to alter DNA is still a subject of debate. It is possible that only certain forms of TiO2 have such an effect, but there are not enough data available to be able to settle this question or identify the forms concerned.
In addition, certain data identified by ANSES show that inhalation of titanium dioxide can cause lung tumours in rats. This raises the question of potential health risks for people regularly exposed to TiO2 in the course of their work.
Why has the additive E171 been banned in food?
Since January 2022, the use of E171 in foodstuffs is no longer authorised in the European Union. This decision results from the conclusions of the assessment of this additive by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which highlighted concerns about its potential ability to damage DNA. In France, the marketing of foodstuffs containing this additive was suspended on 1 January 2020, in particular following ANSES's 2019 opinion on the oral toxicity of E171
Is titanium dioxide authorised in cosmetics?
TiO2 is a cosmetic ingredient authorised as a colorant and UV filter. Its uses are governed by Annexes III and VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (the European Cosmetics Regulation). Nevertheless, in 2024, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded that it was not possible to rule out a potential genotoxic effect of most forms of TiO2 used in cosmetics.
How is titanium dioxide in medicines regulated?
Directive 2009/35/EC restricts the use of colouring matters in medicinal products for veterinary and human use, including TiO2. In a 2021 opinion , the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that the replacement of TiO2 could not be achieved without a negative impact on the quality and availability of medicines in the European Union. It called on manufacturers to speed up research and development into alternatives to the excipients used in the manufacture of medicinal products, and to use them in a rigorously justified manner.