Method of producing improved lithopone

As a food additive, titanium dioxide and its nanoparticles in particular have been associated with DNA damage and cell mutations, which in turn, have potential to cause cancer. When used as a food coloring, it is known as E171.

Nanotoxicology 

While the conclusions of the EU expert panel were considered in this report, Health Canada's Food Directorate conducted its own comprehensive review of the available science. This included evaluating new scientific data that addressed some of the uncertainties identified by the EU expert panel and were not available at the time of their review.    

Recent analyses of food-grade TiO₂ samples have found that a significant portion of particles may be within the nanoscale. These particles (also known as nanoparticles) range in size from 1 to 100 nm, where 1 nm equals 1 billionth of a metre (the width of a typical human hair is 80,000 to 100,000 nm).

It's all over the place in our environment, said Dr. Johnson-Arbor.

Despite its many advantages, the production of lithopone is not without its challenges. The raw materials used to make lithopone, particularly zinc sulfide, can be expensive and difficult to source. In addition, the production process itself can be complex and energy-intensive, requiring specialized equipment and skilled workers to operate. As a result, lithopone manufacturers must carefully manage their operations to ensure they remain competitive in the market.