Titanium Dioxide - Rabab Sabir

Titanium Dioxide- The Chemical found in most Cosmetic Products

Have you ever thought about what goes into your makeup products? What kinds of chemicals are involved? What effects can they have on your skin? Most of us don’t really pay attention to the list of ingredients at the back of the products that we put on our faces. I was interested so  I picked up my Maybelline foundation and looked at the list of ingredients and found Titanium Dioxide as one of the ingredients listed.

Titanium Dioxide is mainly used to give white pigment to most of the products. It is found in nature as a mineral. It can be synthesized in various ways such as by directly reacting titanium with oxide will produce Titanium dioxide, the chloride process, and the sulphate process. The chloride and sulphate processes are used more widely and commercially.  It is not only used in cosmetics but many other products such as candies and gums, paints, paper, rubber, plastics, toothpastes, sunscreens and printing inks. An interesting fact that I found about this chemical is that it has a higher refractive index than diamonds, which means it is a great opacifier and can be used in most of the products. This chemical is very useful in sunscreens as it reflects the ultraviolet rays from the sun to give you the protection. We’ve been using this chemical since 1915 until 2006,  but the main concern by the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC)  is that it may cause cancer. In a case study, the rats were exposed to titanium dioxide dust and developed lung cancer, therefore, the IARC individuals think that it is relevant to humans as well. Thus, precautions are needed in factories where people work to pack products, milling, and cleaning sites.

References

1. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2013). Titanium dioxide classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Retrieved September 21, 2012, from http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html
2. Fit me pressed powder . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Face-Makeup/Powder/Fit-Me-Pressed-Powder.aspx
3. Hazardous Substance Data Bank. (2002). Titanium dioxide. Retrieved November 21, 2013 from http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~N4UBZI:1
4. McNulty, G. S. (n.d.). Production of titanium dioxide. Retrieved from http://v.pl.3.eu-norm.org/index.pdf
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