Lithopone, a white pigment composed of a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, is commonly used in the leather industry as a coloring agent
. Leather suppliers around the world rely on lithopone to achieve the desired color and finish on their products.Drobne et al. used the terrestrial arthropod Porcellio scaber as a test organism for determining the cytotoxic effect of TiO2 NPs (anatase). The animals were exposed to TiO2 NPs of two different sizes (25 nm and 75 nm) in the concentration range 10–1000 μg TiO2/g dry food for 3 to 14 days. No adverse effects, such as mortality, body weight changes or reduced feeding, were observed. In fact, quite the opposite, an enhanced feeding rate, food absorption efficiency and increase in catalase activity were observed. The intensity of these responses appeared to be time- but not dose-dependent. It should also be noted that the concentrations tested in this study were much higher than the predicted concentration (4.8 μg/g soil) at high emission scenario of nano-sized TiO2. Using the same test organism another group showed that exposure to TiO2 NPs induced destabilization of cell membrane in the epithelium of digestive glands isolated from exposed animals. They also showed that this effect can be observed after just 30 minutes of exposure.
- B301 and B311 grades of Lithopone are specifically designed to cater to different application requirements. B301, with its superior whiteness and opacity, is often utilized in paints, plastics, and printing inks. On the other hand, B311, known for its excellent weatherability and heat stability, finds its niche in outdoor applications like building materials and coatings.
“Unlike some other chemicals used in food, titanium dioxide has no nutritive, preservative, or food safety function—its use is purely cosmetic,” said CSPI principal scientist for additives and supplements, Thomas Galligan. “The prospect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles damaging DNA is concerning enough for us to recommend consumers avoid foods that have it.”
Barium sulfide is produced by carbothermic reduction of barium sulfate. Zinc sulfate is obtained from a variety of zinc products, often waste, by treatment with sulfuric acid.
- Furthermore, lithopone quotes are a nod to the harmonious relationship between technology and tradition in China. As a country that values both its rich heritage and technological advancements, the creation and preservation of such art forms demonstrate a commitment to honoring the past while embracing modernity. It's a unique blend that reflects the dynamic nature of Chinese society.
What are the different forms of titanium dioxide in beauty and personal care products?
Pigment grade titanium dioxide is produced at a much larger particle size than nano grade. It is used as a colourant to whiten and brighten product formulations. Nano grade titanium dioxide is manufactured into very fine (nano) particles and is transparent and colourless. It is commonly used in sunscreens to provide effective protection from potentially harmful UV rays.
Let’s break the risk down further.

Prof Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA’s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), said: “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”.
Made Safe only allows titanium dioxide as part of sunscreen solutions and diaper creams; all titanium dioxide must be non-nanoparticle. Made Safe does not allow titanium dioxide in any other personal care or household products.
lithopone supplier 30% applied in masterbatch has maximum purity, good opacity and reasonable light fastness.
Resumo–Este artigo discute a descoberta de litopônio fosforescente em desenhos de aquarela do artista americano John La Farge datados de entre 1890 e 1905 e a história do litopônio na indústria de pigmento no final do século XIX e início do século XX. Apesar de ter muitas qualidades desejáveis para o uso em aquarela branca ou tintas a óleo, o desenvolvimento do litopônio como um pigmento de artistas foi prejudicado por sua tendência a se escurecer na luz solar. Sua disponibilidade para e uso por parte de artistas ainda não está clara, uma vez que os catálogos comerciais dos vendedores de tintas geralmente não eram explícitos na descrição de pigmentos brancos como algo que contém litopônio. Além disso, o litopônio pode ser confundido com o branco de chumbo durante o exame visual e sua fosforescência de curta duração pode ser facilmente perdida pelo observador desinformado. O litopônio fosforescente foi documentado em apenas um outro trabalho até hoje: uma aquarela de Van Gogh. Além da história da manufatura do litopônio, o artigo detalha o mecanismo para a sua fosforescência e sua identificação auxiliada pela espectroscopia de Raman e espectrofluorimetria.
Titanium dioxide is a versatile material with a wide range of applications. Some of its most common uses include: