| Titanium Dioxide has been classified as "Possibly Carcinogenicto Humans" - yet still appears in the formulation of many well known household, and even personal care products such as toothpaste! Even more worrying...this chemical ingredient is used in almost all suncreams made for children! (as well as many products for adults too) - It makes the cream bright and white (you've seen that stuff that skier plaster on their nose and cheeks? Yes...this ingredient makes the cream white!)...and whilst it helps reduce exposure to possibly harmful rays (you may know there is a debate about this going on, too!)...could Titanium Dioxide itself be posing more of a health risk than it is worth? |
Yet another reason to be wary of the chemicals that appear in the products you use for skincare, hair care, body care and cosmetics...This common ingredient which is now under suspicion should be provide even more impetus to why you should choose a safer alternative...
QUOTED FROM:
http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html
http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html
"Titanium dioxide has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen 'possibly carcinogen to humans'...(it) accounts for 70% of the total production volume of pigments worldwide. It is widely used to provide whiteness and opacity to products such as paints, plastics, papers, inks, foods, and toothpastes. It is also used in cosmetic and skin care products, and it is present in almost every sunblock, where it helps protect the skin from ultraviolet light.
With such widespread use of titanium dioxide, it is important to understand that the IARC conclusions are based on very specific evidence. This evidence showed that high concentrations of pigment-grade (powdered) and ultrafine titanium dioxide dust caused respiratory tract cancer in rats exposed by inhalation and intratracheal instillation*. The series of biological events or steps that produce the rat lung cancers (e.g. particle deposition, impaired lung clearance, cell injury, fibrosis, mutations and ultimately cancer) have also been seen in people working in dusty environments. Therefore, the observations of cancer in animals were considered, by IARC, as relevant to people doing jobs with exposures to titanium dioxide dust. For example, titanium dioxide production workers may be exposed to high dust concentrations during packing, milling, site cleaning and maintenance, if there are insufficient dust control measures in place. However, it should be noted that the human studies conducted so far do not suggest an association between occupational exposure to titanium dioxide and an increased risk for cancer.
"Know the labels of what you eat and drink. Have a healthy life."...:>)