The
European risk assessment committee has recently proposed to label TiO2 as a
carcinogen, backed up by laboratory results made on rats. The approval would
have a significant effect on the whole titanium dioxide chain, while industry
associations are opposing the proposal as unfounded and hastily
Source: Pixabay
Issued
by the French environmental and occupational health agency, the risk assessment
committee of the European Chemicals Agency has proposed to label titanium
dioxide (TiO2) as a potential carcinogen. The Agency states to have the
scientific evidence, that TiO2 can cause cancer through the inhalation route,
which would cause the classification in Category 2.
This
classification is not enough for the French agency. It has proposed to label
TiO2 in Category 1B, which means the substance is likely to cause the growth of
cancer in the human body. However, this classification was not supported by the
Committee for Risk Assessment, which sees no justification for this claim.
According
to ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC), the available scientific
evidence meets the criteria for the Classification, Labelling and Packaging
Regulation (CLP Regulation) to classify TiO2 as a substance suspected of
causing cancer through the inhalation route.
As
TiO2 is the most used white pigment for worldwide plenty of industries, the
actual classification might have a deep impact on the global TiO2 market, which
is dominated by China’s suppliers. After all, the white pigment is used in
several consumer goods just like paints, coatings, plastic, paper, cosmetic,
medicines and even foods. According to market intelligence firm CCM, TiO2 makes
up between 10.4% and up to 57.4% of the total sales in the paint and coatings,
plastics, and papers industry.
Some
studies about the topic have revealed, that rodent, which is exposed to high
levels of TiO2 nanoparticles, have shown signs of respiratory tract cancer.
Responses of the
industries
Several
industries, like the American Coatings Association, have responded negatively
to the proposal and claim it to be unfounded. The Association fears, that the
new label would cause all painting products with TiO2 pigments would be
classified as carcinogens if the proposal gets approved.
The
Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers’ Association has announced on their website,
that a link between cancer and TiO2 cannot be established. Even independent
institutions could not find an evidence for any cancer effects on humans. The
laboratory studies would expose rats which far higher concentration of TiO2
than workers or consumers ever make contact to. Particularly, the
epidemiological studies on 240,000 workers over 50 years have proved that there
is no connection between cancer and exposure to TiO2.
The
Canadian Paint and Coatings Association has announced its concerns, that the
proposal will inevitably lead to doubts and hesitation of companies all along
the Worldwide titanium dioxide industry chain.
The
British Coatings Federation and European Council of Paint, Printing Ink and
Artists' Colours Industry states that TiO2 is an unreactive inorganic compound
used as white pigment in many industries, including oil paint, coatings,
printing inks and wallpaper, and production of some other consumer goods. TiO2,
in a powder form, does no harm to oil paint, coatings, printing inks and
wallpaper.
In
the end, the European Commission, the lead authority in the EU, is going to
decide the future labelling of TiO2. For manufacturers in the related
industries, this could have some huge impacts on materials for formulating.
About CCM
CCM
is the leading market intelligence provider for China’s agriculture, chemicals,
food & ingredients and life science markets.
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