> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # You barely notice it in processed food, but it can boost your cancer risk - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/titanium_dioxide_0421120947/ - Published: 2012-04-21T10:45:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T15:59:16.000Z - Description: Sycheva and colleagues fed mice micro- and nano-sized titanium dioxide for seven days and reported DNA damage in bone marrow and liver cells along with tissue damage elsewhere. They concluded the particles, common in food and cosmetics, are a potential health hazard. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Chemical, Food Safety, Cancer, Titanium Dioxide, Nanoparticles, #vivvo-import Titanium dioxide in your processed food may cause cancer By David Liu, PHD Sunday April 21, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- L.P. Sycheva of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow and colleagues reported evidence in the Nov 27, 2011 issue of Mutation Research suggesting that exposure to titanium dioxide may increase risk of cancer among other things. Titanium dioxide in micro or nanoparticles is commonly used in foods, cosmetics and pigments intended for foods and drugs. The researchers said titanium dioxide can cause negative health effects such as lung cancer in rats. Their current study revealed that titanium dioxide can be genotoxic and carcinogenic, confirming that exposure this type of nanoparticles may result in the development of cancer. In the study, Sycheva and colleagues fed mice titanium dioxide in microparticles - 160 nanometers and nanoparticles - 33 nanometers in doses of 40, 200 and 1000 mg/kg of body weight daily for seven days. They found micro-sized titanium dioxide particles induced DNA damage and micronuclei in bone marrow cells and nano-sized titanium dioxide particles induced DNA damage in the cells of bone marrow and liver. DNA damage leads to mutations, which can further lead to cancer development or carcinogenesis. Titanium dioxide microparticles and nanoparticles were also found to induce cytotoxicity and damage the forestomach, colon , sperm and testis. That is, these particles can cause damage also at cellular levels. The researchers said the titanium dioxide microparticles and nanoparticles induced genotoxicity in vivo in mice by triggering a secondary genotoxic mechanism associated with inflammation and or oxidative stress. They concluded that "these findings indicate a potential health hazard associated with exposure to TiO(2) particles (titanium dioxide)." FAO/WHO Food Standards CODEX alimentarius states titanium dioxide is a food additive that is included in processed foods including dairy based drinks, condensed milk and analogues, clotted cream, cream analogues, milk powder, cream powder, and powder analogues, unripened cheese, ripened cheese, processed cheese, dairy-based desserts, liquid whey and whey products, fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads, fat emulsion, edible ices, processed fruit, dried vegetables, seaweeds and nuts and seeds, vegetables,, seaweeds in vinegar, oil, brine or soybean sauce, canned or bottled or retort pouch vegetables, cooked or fried vegetables, confectionery or candy, breakfast cereals including rolled oats, pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products, cereal and starch based desserts, batters, precooked rice products, soybean products, bakery wares, processed meat, poultry and game products, edible casings, semi-preserved fish and fish products, fully preserved fish and fish products, dried and or heat coagulated egg products, preserved eggs, egg-based desserts, table-top sweeteners, seasonings and condiments, vinegars, mustard, soups and broths, sauces, salads and sandwich spreads, yeast and like products, soybean-based seasonings and condiments, protein products other than from soybeans, dietetic foods, food supplements, water-based flavored drinks including sport, energy or electrolyte, beer and malt beverages, cider and perry, wines, mead, distilled spirits, aromatized alcoholic beverages, ready-to eat savouries and composite foods.