Number
199-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Health services
Manufacture of bulk, large scale chemicals (including petroleum products)
Function
UV stabilizer
Process
Other
Product category
Cosmetics, personal care products
Application
Sunblock
Abstract
Titanium dioxide is used in skin care cosmetics to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Because Titanium dioxide as nanoparticles is classified as a group 2B carcinogen (IARC), 1A or 1B carcinogen (CLP Regulation) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC) and has been subject to debates regarding other hazards, there are current researches for alternatives. EN ivy nanoparticles may be one of them.
Substituted substances
Titanium dioxide
CAS No. 13463-67-7 EC No. 236-675-5 Index No.
Chemical group
Titanium compounds; metal oxides
Classification: hazard statements
H351 Suspected of causing cancer
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 2B carcinogen (IARC) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Reliability of information
Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed
Reason substitution
CMR
Other type of alternative
Naturally occurring nanoparticles of EN ivy
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Titanium dioxide is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), according to the IARC Monographs. Alternative substance: According to the study EN ivy is less toxic and more biodegradable than titanium dioxide.
Description of Substitution
The demand for skin protection against solar UV radiation has increased as awareness of the effects to exposure has grown, especially in the context of news about the depleting stratospheric ozone layer. Sunscreens used to reflect, scatter or adsorb UV have evolved and the relatively recent use of o-size materials brought an increased protection as well as reduce opacity to the product, a clear advantage in the case of a cosmetic to be applied on face. However the nanosize (particles comparable as size to the diameter of atoms) changes the properties of the normal or microscale substance and negative effects on health are under scientific scrutiny. The study presents the results of laboratory test for the naturally occurring EN ivory nanoparticles regarding toxicological effects, biodegradability and capacity to penetrate deep layers of skin. Naturally occurring particles from its aerial rootles were separated and tested under laboratory conditions. When compared to Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, the ivy nanoparticles showed decreased cell toxicity, and were easily degradable, indicating that they provided a safer alternative to these nanoparticles.
Case/substitution evaluation
EN ivy is a plant used mainly for garden decoration but also in some cosmetic products. Ivy 'produces' natural nanoparticles that allow the plant to climb and to chemically adhere to any solid surface through hydrogen bonding (see Further information). The substitution results are encouraging to continue work and to make it a full scale alternative to titanium dioxide.
State of implementation
Pilot study
Date and place of implementation
Under tests in 2010
Availability ofAlternative
Alternative is still under laboratory tests.
Type of information supplier
Research
Other solutions
Zinc oxides are also used in sunscreens.
Further information
Type of publication and availability
Scientific article freely available on internet
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
Lijin Xia, Scott C Lenaghan, Mingjun Zhang, Zhili Zhang and Quanshui Li, An alternative to metal-based oparticles for UV protection, Journal of obiotechnology 2010, 8:12
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021