Study Links Popular Food Additive to Colon Cancer
Titanium dioxide is a popular way to whiten food and cosmetics but new research adds to previous concerns
Jennifer Margulis
A new peer-reviewed article by a team of 15 scientists based in Mexico sheds light on the toxicity of a popular food additive often used as a whitening pigment.
The article, published in the journal Toxicology in August 2022, “Food Grade Titanium Dioxide Accumulation Leads to Cellular Alterations in Colon Cells After Removal of a 24-Hour Exposure,” examines the effects of titanium dioxide on cells.
The Mexican researchers found that so-called food-grade titanium dioxide, which is used as an additive in everything from candy to sunscreen, accumulated in colon cells, causing what may be permanent damage.
Using electron microscopy, the researchers identified the presence of food-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a human colon cancer cell line that they maintained in a cell culture medium.
When they exposed human cells to titanium dioxide, they did so at small, variable concentrations. Other cells with no exposure to titanium dioxide served as the control group.
After 48 hours of exposure, the culture medium was replaced with an unexposed cell culture medium. Forty-eight hours later, the cells were analyzed. Titanium dioxide—at all concentrations—persisted in the colon cells even 48 hours after exposure.
The exposure caused damage to the cells and DNA alteration, researchers found.
Using electron microscopy, the researchers identified the presence of food-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a human colon cancer cell line that they maintained in a cell culture medium.
When they exposed human cells to titanium dioxide, they did so at small, variable concentrations. Other cells with no exposure to titanium dioxide served as the control group.
After 48 hours of exposure, the culture medium was replaced with an unexposed cell culture medium. Forty-eight hours later, the cells were analyzed. Titanium dioxide—at all concentrations—persisted in the colon cells even 48 hours after exposure.
The exposure caused damage to the cells and DNA alteration, researchers found.
