Titanium Dioxide
- CAS
- 13463-67-7
- EC
- 2366755
- PubChem CID
- 26042
- Molecular Formula
- O2Ti
- Molecular Weight
- 79.8660 g/mol
UV protector in sunscreens, whitening pigment. Should not be inhaled in powder form; generally safe.
What does it do?
A component used as a UV filter in sunscreens and as a whitening/mattifying pigment in other products.
Details
A mineral filter that physically blocks UV rays in sunscreens, also used as a whitening and mattifying pigment. It is generally considered safe on the skin, but its use in spray and powder products is restricted as inhalation in powder form carries a risk of accumulation in the lungs. It is permitted up to 25% in face powders and 1.4% in hair spray aerosols. There are no restrictions for sun protectors in cream form.
Benefits
Restrictions
Where is it found?
Function & Use
Opacifying
UV Absorber
Skin-Conditioning Agent
UV Filter
Regulatory note
- EU 1223/2009 Annex IIIRestricted
- EU 1223/2009 Annex IVAllowed
- EU 1223/2009 Annex VIAllowed
Maximum concentration: 25%
What The Sources Say
SCCS (EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety)3
EU 1223/2009 Annex VI — SCCS opinion: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in cosmetic products that lead to exposure by inhalation.
EU 1223/2009 Annex III — SCCS opinion: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in cosmetic products that lead to exposure by inhalation.
EU 1223/2009 Annex VI — SCCS opinion: Opinion on Titanium Dioxide
IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer)1
IARC Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans. Limited evidence in humans and insufficient evidence in experimental animals (or vice versa). (Monograph volume: 47, 93). Caveat: IARC classifies HAZARD, not RISK - it says 'can cause cancer under some conditions', not 'causes cancer at cosmetic use levels'. Route and dose must be assessed separately. Data is a 01/2021 snapshot.
Europe PMC (scientific literature)1
Cited by 730. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are manufactured worldwide in large quantities for use in a wide range of applications. TiO2 NPs possess different physicochemical properties compared to their fine particle (FP) analogs, which might alter their bioactivity. Most of the literature cited here has focused on the respiratory system, showing the importance of inhalation as the primary route
ToxValDB (EPA Toxicity Value Database)9
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA), classification: Not likely to be sensitizing, species: guinea pig, study: skin sensitization, guideline: according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation) according to EPA OPP 81-6 (Skin Sensitisation), year: 1994. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB kanser değerlendirmesi: 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB genotoxicity: positive — positive reports: 17, negative: 6, Ames: positive, micronucleus: positive. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Eye Irritation, classification: Classification not possible. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Skin Irritation, classification: Not classified. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
+4 more records.
Scientific References
- EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard - DSSTox identifiers mapped to CAS (2021r1)US EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure
- EU CosIng - Cosmetic Ingredient Database full exportEuropean Commission, DG GROW
- IARC Monographs - Titanium dioxide (Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans)IARC — WHO Uluslararası Kanser Araştırmaları Ajansı
- INCIDB - Skincare & Cosmetics INCI Database (Kaggle 2026.07)INCIDB (derived from EU CosIng, US FDA MoCRA, NLM DailyMed, OBF)
- OpenFDA Cosmetic Adverse Events (api.fda.gov/cosmetic/event)US FDA — unvalidated adverse event reports
- Opinion on Titanium DioxideSCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- PubChem - CID-Synonym-filtered bulk + PUG REST propertiesNCBI / National Library of Medicine
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in cosmetic products that lead to exposure by inhalation.SCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- Titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a review of current toxicological data.Particle and fibre toxicology
- ToxValDB - cancerUS EPA — ToxValDB v97
- ToxValDB - genotoxicityUS EPA — ToxValDB v97
- ToxValDB - skin/eyeUS EPA — ToxValDB v97
