Titanium is a metal commonly found in plants and animals. It naturally interacts with oxygen to form titanium oxides, commonly found in ores, indigenous dust, sands, and soils. Many people are familiar with titanium dioxide as an active ingredient in sunscreen, where it works as a UV filtering ingredient to help block the sun's ultraviolet light that can cause sunburn and is linked to skin cancer.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used in a variety of personal care products, including sunscreens, pressed powders, and loose powders, as a UV filter or whitening agent.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used in a variety of personal care products, including sunscreens, pressed powders, and loose powders, as a UV filter or whitening agent. In lotions and creams (dermal exposure), it is not a risk for adverse health effects. However, when titanium dioxide is inhalable-as it may be when in powder form-it is considered a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles do not appear to confer any unique health hazards.
