/oss/taxonomy/term/656/all en /oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/titanium-dioxide-food-europe-says-no-way-canada-disagrees <p>It is in paint, paper, sunscreen, cosmetics, toothpaste and food. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists it in its Group 2B, “possibly carcinogenic in humans.” In Europe it is not allowed as a food additive, but in Canada you’ll find it in candies, chewing gum, pastries, cake decorations and coffee creamers. Should you worry about consuming titanium dioxide, TiO<sub>2</sub>?</p> Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9839 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-environment-health/cleaning-air-jeans <p>You may want them in your jeans, but you probably want to keep them away from your genes. They’re “nano” particles of titanium dioxide, about ten billionths of a meter in diameter that can exhibit beneficial properties not possessed by their larger cousins, but they may also have a darker side.</p> Wed, 18 Nov 2015 01:02:27 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2294 at /oss /oss/article/technology-you-asked/what-chemical-makes-self-cleaning-windows-possible <p>Self-cleaning windows are here, thanks to recent developments in “photocatalysis” and “super-hydrophilicity.” Tongue-twisting terms, but well worth exploring. Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring pigment long used to impart a white colour to paints, inks, plastics, paper, ceramics, cosmetics and even food. When used as a pigment titanium dioxide is inert, but when ground into extremely fine particles, it exhibits photocatalysis.</p> Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:10:01 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1745 at /oss