Opinion of the Scientific Committee on health, environmental and emerging risks on the safety of titanium dioxide in toys

The Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks advises the European Commission on whether the uses of titanium dioxide in toys and toy materials can be considered to be safe in light of the identified exposure, and the classification of titanium dioxide as carcinogenic category 2 after inhalation. Four toy products including casting kits, chalk, powder paints and white colour pencils containing various amounts of TiO2 as colouring agent were evaluated for inhalation risks. For the oral route, childrens’ lip gloss/lipstick, finger paint and white colour pencils were evaluated. When it can be demonstrated with high certainty that no ultrafine fraction is present in pigmentary TiO2 preparations used in toys and toy materials, safe use with no or negligible risk for all products considered is indicated based on the exposure estimations of this Opinion. However, if an ultrafine fraction is assumed to be present, safe use is not indicated, except for white colour pencils. •SCHEER safety evaluation of the use of TiO2 (inhalation) in toys and toy materials.•Evaluated were casting kits, chalk, powder paints, white pencils after inhalation.•Evaluated were also childrens' lip gloss/lipstick and finger paint for ingestion.•Safe use is indicated for all products evaluated when absence of a nanofraction•Uncertainties remain on fine TiO2 size distribution, possible release and toxicity.