Titanium substances draft assessment — no action

Summary#

The federal environment and health departments published a draft assessment of the Titanium-containing Substances Group and propose taking no further regulatory action under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 for these 13 substances. The draft says current evidence points to low risk to both the environment and human health. The public can comment for 60 days after publication.

What it does#

• Publishes a summary of the draft assessment for the 13 titanium-containing substances named on the Domestic Substances List.
• Says the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health propose that these substances do not meet the harm criteria in section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, so they plan no further action under section 77 at this time.
• Opens a public comment period of 60 days after publication. People can send written comments and may ask that submitted information be kept confidential.
• Describes how the assessment was done: it looked at environmental measurements and models, consumer and food exposures, and human biomonitoring data.
• Summarizes key health and exposure findings in the draft:
  • A toxicology benchmark (NOAEL) used was 623 mg/kg body weight/day of titanium (equivalent to 1,000 mg/kg of titanium dioxide).
  • A biomonitoring equivalent was derived at 65 µg/L, while the blood testing limit of detection was 10 µg/L; titanium was not detected at or above that limit in 99.97% of tested Canadians.
  • For inhalation, certain lung effects were seen in animals only at very high doses that caused lung overload; those findings were judged not relevant to the general public at current exposure levels.
• Notes where these substances appear: mining and refining, paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, textiles, electronics, some food additives, cosmetics and other consumer products.

Who's affected#

• Companies that make, import or use titanium-containing substances (for example in paints, cosmetics, food packaging, electronics and industrial processes).
• Workers in industries that handle these substances and communities near industrial point sources.
• Consumers, because some of the substances are found in foods and everyday products. Children were estimated to have higher exposure than adults from food and the environment.
• Environmental and public-health groups, researchers, and anyone with information or concerns who may want to submit comments during the 60-day period.

Why it matters#

• If the final conclusion stays the same, there would be no new federal restrictions on these 13 titanium substances now. That affects manufacturers, importers and product makers who use them.
• The assessment concludes low current risk for the environment and for human health based on available data, including national biomonitoring. That may reassure consumers and local communities.
• The public comment period gives an opportunity to provide additional scientific or local information that could change the final outcome. Information submitted can be requested to be treated as confidential.