The Titanium Dioxide in Your Toothpaste Just Might Kill You

Titanium dioxide usually exists in a white powder-like consistency and is often used in food, or other products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and cosmetics. The purpose of this compound is to brighten the color of the product in order to make it look whiter, or more opaque. In many cases, Titanium dioxide was used as a food additive, to make food look more visually appealing.

In 2016, the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) undertook an assessment on titanium dioxide. Several significant gaps in the data that resulted from their experiment highlighted the need for further research. However, several kinds of toothpaste, mouthwash, and food manufacturing companies continued to use titanium dioxide over the years.

At the request of the European Commission, this research was followed up several times over the years.

Titanium dioxide is a common product used in many branded toothpastes, easily available in stores today. For several years Titanium dioxide was considered safe for use in food and oral products. However, the EFSA has now decided change their minds regarding the safety of Titanium dioxide in these products.

Titanium Dioxide: High Oral Intake and Side Effects

A research published in July 2020, titled “Toxicity evaluation of TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in toothpaste products” evaluated several concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on different types of cells of the human body

This research, published in the journal of GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, depicted a positive correlation of toxicity to the HepG2 cell line (responsible for causing liver cancer). The results of this research concluded that at certain concentrations and durations of exposure, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, present in toothpaste, can be responsible for causing liver cancer.

Another research, conducted in 2016, on the Deutsch population and published in the Nanotoxicology Journal by Taylor & Francis (Volume 10, Issue 10) explored the exposure of titanium dioxide in adults and children as a result of oral intake in food as well as the use of oral products.

This research titled “Oral intake of added titanium dioxide and its nanofraction from food products, food supplements and toothpaste by the Dutch population” analysed the data regarding the dietary intake of Titanium dioxide through scientific literature and showed that the mean estimated long-term intake of TiO2 NPs ranged from 0.19 μg/kg per day for elderly, 0.55 μg/kg per day for 7–69-year-old people, to 2.16 μg/kg per day for young children.

According to the research, toothpastes contribute the largest towards dietary Titanium dioxide intake in children (57%) since children are at risk for swallowing toothpaste. Following this, desserts such as cupcakes and cookies were known to be the second largest contributor towards a high intake of Titanium dioxide, in children and adults alike.

However, regardless of a number of researches that prove Titanium dioxide can have adverse side effects, many companies, and health related websites claim that the titanium dioxide present in food and oral products, is present at levels that are considered “safe” for ingestion.

It is imperative to note that even if the concentration of Titanium dioxide is minuscule, its continuous exposure over the course of longer periods of time can have damaging effects for both children and adults.

Titanium dioxide has been proven to contribute to causing both intestinal and liver cancers. Another research published in the Toxicology Journal, titled “Possible effects of titanium dioxide particles on the human liver, intestinal tissue, spleen, and kidney after oral exposure” proves the same.

EFSA’s Opinion

In May 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an opinion that stated that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive. 

Based on this opinion, the European Commission and the Member States have mutually agreed to remove all edibles in which titanium dioxide is used as an additive in food. In January 2022, a regulation was passed to withdraw the authorisation to use titanium dioxide as a food additive in food products.

This regulation included a six-month transitional period for all food businesses to phase out the use of this food additive and to create new formulas for their products using legally accepted alternatives. This period was to end in August 2022.

Edibles containing titanium dioxide that were legally present in the market before August, were allowed by ESFA to be placed until their expiration date. However, any food in the market cannot contain Titanium dioxide after August.

Though this rule is a step in the right direction towards putting the health of the population above consumer demands, this rule is still not applicable to oral care products.

Since oral care products, that contain Titanium dioxide can in fact, affect the exposure to this chemical due to its retention in the mouth during and after use, regulatory authorities have a responsibility to the population to put forth a directive to control its exposure. Furthermore, manufacturers of oral products also have a responsibility to produce alternatives to Titanium dioxide, especially for children, or to diminish its existence in toothpaste, so that consumers are not at risk of intestinal and liver cancers due to overlong exposure.