PIGMENTS | TITANIUM DIOXIDE
warning that the product contains a potential carcinogen (see this month’s news section). The move is based on toxicological data from two studies in which laboratory rats developed tumours that became cancerous after living for several weeks in very concentrated atmospheres of TiO2
dust.
“The validity of these studies has been chal- lenged on many grounds,” says consultant Reg Adams. He says critics have pointed to the expo- sure concentrations being extreme (240 mg/m3
),
that the rat lungs were chronically overloaded, and that physiological clearance was impaired. It is also pointed out that human cohort studies assessing more than 24,000 people working in TiO2
factories
have not shown an association between exposure to TiO2
at normal factory concentrations and an
Above: The EU is about to legislate that all TiO2
-containing
products such as window profiles carry health warnings
enon, TiO2 grades with reduced TiO2
manufacturers have developed special photocatalytic activity.
Gonchar says this is typically achieved by introduc- ing special dopants to decrease photocatalytic activity of the TiO2
lattice or by applying inorganic
surface treatments such as silicon oxide or zirco- nium compounds. The former are intended to act as a barrier on the TiO2
surface while the latter
capture the free radicals formed. Gonchar says both TiO2
lattice doping and
surface treatment involve complicated operations with a lot of critical nuances to be taken into account. Therefore, he advises that users take care to evaluate the quality of offered products by conducting their own weathering tests – either accelerated or in real outdoor conditions. RDTitanGroupInnovative TiO2
own technology for production of super-durable TiO2
increased incidence of lung cancer. “Nevertheless, the law-drafting process moves
ahead inexorably since May 2016, when the recommendation for special labelling was first tabled,” he says. “In mid-September 2019, the European Commission declared that it will be submitting the draft legislation for final approval by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The enactment of legislation in the EU might set a precedent for similar regulations to be adopted in other parts of the world. In any event, it may well have a dampening effect on the potential growth of TiO2
consumption in paint, plastics and other end-use sectors.” has developedits
. Its RP-72 grade production technology makes it possible to produce titanium dioxide with superior weather durability, according to Gonchar. It involves the combination of three technologies: TiO2
particlesareencapsulatedinadensesilicon
oxide; the crystal lattice is doped using a specially developed technology to reduce photochemical activity;
and a “free radical scavenger mechanism” is applied to neutralise any free radicals that can form.
More recently, RD Titan Group Innovative TiO2 has developed an even more durable grade. RP-8829 is said to be exhibit twice the durability of RP-72 (determined as 5% acid solubility for RP-8829 versus 10% for RP-72).
Regulatory troubles On the regulatory front, the European Commission is close to legislating that all TiO2
-containing
products sold in the EU (cans of paint, PVC window- frames, packs of decorative laminate flooring, and the like) carry labelling with words and icons
48 COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2019
TDMA, the trade association representing TiO2 manufacturers, says the chemical should not be classified as carcinogenic because the proposed mechanism of toxicity is not related to its chemistry, but rather to the size and shape of the particles, as well as to its low solubility. TDMA says “a vast body of scientific evidence” shows that TiO2
does not
cause cancer in humans (
https://tdma.info/ titanium-dioxide-is-safe/). According to one news outlet, the European
Commission says it has worked in close consulta- tion with member states and various stakeholders and made “all efforts” to address their anxieties.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.artikol.com �
www.chemours.com �
www.tipmcconsulting.com �
www.venatorcorp.com �
www.lomonbillions.global �
www.tronox.com �
www.ineos.com �
www.fp-pigments.com �
www.innovativetio2.com �
www.tdma.info
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
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