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On February 18, 2020, the European Commission finally included respirable titanium dioxide as a suspected carcinogen (category 2) based on a 2017 proposal. So, what is titanium dioxide? How does it affect our lives?
Titanium dioxide, also known as titania, has been active in our daily life not only as the main ingredient of physical sunscreen and other daily chemical products, but also as a food additive. It is widely used by various brands. If titanium dioxide causes cancer, it will definitely cause an earthquake in the daily chemical industry.
What are the concerns of the European Union? Let’s first look at the original EU legislation. The detailed content of this article in the article is:
“The label on the packaging of liquid mixtures containing 1% or more of titanium dioxide particles with aerodynamic diameter equal to or below 10 μm shall bear the following statement: ‘Warning! Hazardous respirable droplets may be formed when sprayed. Do not breathe spray or mist.”
This law refers to the fact that titanium dioxide in sunscreens can be nanoscale and non-nanoscale. The nanometer particle size is 10-170 nm, which is much smaller than the size of the PM2.5 haze. If the respiratory tract contains the components that cannot be degraded by the body, and the mucosa is stimulated for a long time, there is a risk of cancer.
So, can sunscreen still work safely? For titanium dioxide in skincare products, it is not suitable to simply classify it as a carcinogen. Titanium dioxide used in daily chemical products, first, is very small in the amount, and second, it has low chances to be inhaled.
For the first-line workers who have been working in dust for a long time, it’s reasonable for them to feel worried when seeing this new legislation and then check strictly on their protective measures in their daily work. For titanium dioxide powder is a raw material for workers and the manufacturing process requires a lot of contacts. So, this reminder is very meaningful.
But for ordinary consumers, we do not have to reject all daily chemical products containing titanium dioxide. After all, the US FDA attached great importance to the field of sun protection last year. The proposed rules for improving the quality, tranquility, and effectiveness of sunscreens were announced on February 21, 2019. And then, on August 29, 2019, it shared a guide on how to protect skin from sunlight. This is because sunlight is the main cause of skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than 1 million people diagnosed each year.
Sunscreen is best used all year round, not only to prevent skin cancer, but also to prevent skin aging, wrinkles, and freckles caused by sun exposure. However, if you use a sunscreen spray, it is recommended to spray it on your hands before applying it on face. If spraying is necessary, close eyes and mouth, and hold breath when spraying so as to prevent the particles from getting into eyes and being inhaled into lungs.