E171 TITANIUM DIOXIDE or TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Titanium dioxide is a white powder of mineral origin.
It can be mainly contained in sugared almonds, chewing-gum, sweets, etc.
Titanium dioxide can be used in various ways:
- as a white pigment used in paints and building concrete, in plastics and as a matting powder for colored paints (it is therefore called "titanium white");
- as a catalyst capable of degrading, by oxidation, numerous organic compounds;
- in the form of nanometric particles, titanium dioxide can also be used in some cosmetics (to be exact, body creams and makeup); it is also included in the formulation of some sun products for its ability to filter sunlight, blocking the UV component and thus protecting the skin. Currently, however, numerous studies are being carried out to try to understand if there is the possibility that the titanium dioxide powders can also infiltrate through the skin, then enter the bloodstream. researches were born following the development of nanopathologies, that is those diseases caused by the exposure and subsequent permanence in the organism (animal and human) of inorganic particles so small that they cannot be removed from the organism, and as such potentially capable of provoke inflammatory processes that can degenerate, in some cases, into neoplasms;
- as a food coloring indicated with the initials E171 (colored sweets and snacks such as M&MS, artificial sweeteners, donuts)
Currently, the total harmlessness of titanium dioxide has not yet been demonstrated, regarding the carcinogenic potential when ingested as an additive. In particular, some studies have pointed the finger at titanium dioxide for its ability to increase the intestinal inflammatory response in subjects affected by crohn's disease, which for this reason should reduce food sources of E171 as much as possible.
ADI DOSE: The currently acceptable daily dose has not yet been determined.
