Oral intake of added titanium dioxide and its nanofraction from food products, food supplements and toothpaste by the Dutch population

• Published in: Nanotoxicology 2016-12, Vol.10 (10), p.1404-1414
• Main Authors: Rompelberg, Cathy, Heringa, Minne B., van Donkersgoed, Gerda, Drijvers, José, Roos, Agnes, Westenbrink, Susanne, Peters, Ruud, van Bemmel, Greet, Brand, Walter, Oomen, Agnes G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Eating; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Food additive E 171; Food Analysis; Hogs; Humans; long-term dietary intake; Middle Aged; nanomaterial; Nanoparticles - analysis; Netherlands; probabilistic modelling; TiO; Titanium - analysis; Toothpastes - chemistry; Weaning; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1743-5390; 1743-5404
• DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2016.1222457

Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is commonly applied to enhance the white colour and brightness of food products. TiO 2 is also used as white pigment in other products such as toothpaste. A small fraction of the pigment is known to be present as nanoparticles (NPs). Recent studies with TiO 2 NPs indicate that these particles can have toxic effects. In this paper, we aimed to estimate the oral intake of TiO 2 and its NPs from food, food supplements and toothpaste in the Dutch population aged 2 to over 70 years by combining data on food consumption and supplement intake with concentrations of Ti and TiO 2 NPs in food products and supplements. For children aged 2-6 years, additional intake via ingestion of toothpaste was estimated. The mean long-term intake to TiO 2 ranges from 0.06 mg/kg bw/day in elderly (70+), 0.17 mg/kg bw/day for 7-69-year-old people, to 0.67 mg/kg bw/day in children (2-6 year old). The estimated mean intake of TiO 2 NPs ranges from 0.19 μg/kg bw/day in elderly, 0.55 μg/kg bw/day for 7-69-year-old people, to 2.16 μg/kg bw/day in young children. Ninety-fifth percentile (P95) values are 0.74, 1.61 and 4.16 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. The products contributing most to the TiO 2 intake are toothpaste (in young children only), candy, coffee creamer, fine bakery wares and sauces. In a separate publication, the results are used to evaluate whether the presence of TiO 2 NPs in these products can pose a human health risk.