Currency - The rutile market is dominated by a few key manufacturers who supply the majority of the world's rutile. These manufacturers are primarily located in countries with abundant mineral resources, such as Australia, South Africa, and China. Some of the leading rutile manufacturers include Iluka Resources, Tronox Limited, Rio Tinto, and Guangdong Huiyun Titanium Industry Co., Ltd.
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According to the EFSA's Expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings 2021 opinion regarding titanium dioxide, it could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity from ingestion of the material based on a perceived gap in data on this risk, which serves as the basis for current ban, said a March report on the decision.
Australian researchers examined how titanium dioxide as a food additive affected gut microbiota in mice by orally administering it in drinking water. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in 2019, found the treatment could “alter the release of bacterial metabolites in vivo and affect the spatial distribution of commensal bacteria in vitro by promoting biofilm formation. We also found reduced expression of the colonic mucin 2 gene, a key component of the intestinal mucus layer, and increased expression of the beta defensin gene, indicating that titanium dioxide significantly impacts gut homeostasis.” The changes were then linked to colonic inflammation, along with a higher expression of inflammatory cytokines, which are signal proteins that help with regulation. The researchers concluded that titanium dioxide “impairs gut homeostasis which may in turn prime the host for disease development.”
5. Is EFSA banning titanium dioxide?
What’s recently changed with titanium dioxide and regulations?

This work confirms previous studies that show P-25 and other untreated anatase 377 nanoparticles should not be employed in sunscreens because the toxicity of P25TiO2NPs under UV radiation is significant.
Apart from the cosmetics industry, the coatings and plastics industry is also expected to contribute significantly to the growth of titanium dioxide in 2023. Coatings made from titanium dioxide offer excellent hiding power, durability and weather resistance, making them ideal for outdoor applications. Demand for high-quality coatings is expected to surge as the construction and automotive industries expand. Titanium dioxide is at the forefront of providing aesthetic and protective coatings, making it an indispensable ingredient in the industry.
When we purchase lithopone, we must pay attention to its ratio. This can be seen to some extent from the appearance. Basically, we can see that good products are very delicate. , and the color is also very uniform, a kind of shiny white, while inferior lithopone has uneven particles and wrong luster.
Prof. Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA’s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), wrote of the decision: “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body.”


Titanium dioxide prices in the Asian market skyrocketed due to high demand and limited stock availability. Prices in the Chinese market surged significantly, reaching 2875 USD /MT at the end of March, well above the USD 2015/MT level in January 2021.

Founded in 1902 by Henrick J. Krebs, Krebs Pigments and Chemical Company produced lithopone, a widely used white paint pigment also manufactured by DuPont. But Krebs' company had another asset of special interest to DuPont. ...
Resistance to heat, light and weathering prevents degradation of paint and in films and embrittlement of plastics.

