Spasfon, Doliprane, Imodium... Titanium dioxide would be present in nearly 800 drugs

By Léa Giandomenico Posted on News See my news

“800 of the most prescribed drugs contain titanium dioxide, a probably carcinogenic nanoparticle. “This is what the consumer magazine Kali says, this Wednesday, December 22, 2021.

The media has worked hand in hand with the AVICENN association, which carries out scientific monitoring of the challenges of nanoparticles and brings together experts on the subject. In the file, they alert on the potential dangers of this substance and draw up the list of the drugs concerned.

Nanoparticles, microscopic – “50,000 times smaller than a hair” – according to the media, have the ability to slip into human cells and into all living organisms.

"Whiten the drugs"

However, titanium dioxide, this substance identified as an excipient and present in nearly 800 drugs, was classified as a probable carcinogen in 2006 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and then classified as a definite carcinogen in 2021. The journalist recalls that titanium dioxide is used "to whiten medicines and make them brighter".

The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) also took up the issue. In 2016, it issued an opinion on food products, considering that titanium dioxide could no longer "be considered a safe food additive".

The organization had submitted in June of the same year to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) "a proposal for the classification of titanium dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation", as indicated on its website.

A paradox

"Also present in food products, this nanoparticle was therefore banned from food on January 1, 2020, because it was recognized as harmful when ingested", indicates the editor-in-chief of Kali.

Thus, this ban highlights "an obvious paradox: we prohibit the use of this substance in food, because we recognize a health risk, but we continue to manufacture medicines that contain it...", laments Christelle Pangrazzi.

Long term effects

In the short term, nothing is certain concerning the undesirable effects of this substance. "But consumed in high doses and over time, the nanoparticle can have serious effects on the body," says Christelle Pangrazzi. The media reports that this substance is suspected of “promoting colorectal cancer when ingested and lung cancer when inhaled”. However, titanium dioxide would be present "in a third of the drugs sold on the market".

Already in 2018, the magazine 60 million consumers warned of the danger of nanoparticles present in medicines. The media revealed the controversial side of these substances. It read that “a recent study by the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) highlighted their carcinogenic potential in rats”.

The media recommended "as a precautionary principle […] to try to replace any medicine incorporating titanium dioxide […] by its equivalent without titanium dioxide".

"Bringing the Lines"

So why is the nanoparticle still not banned in drugs? In the Kali magazine file, we read that the European Medicines Agency (EMA), estimates that “a transition period of 10 years or more” would be necessary to remove this dye from medicines.

The agency also puts forward the argument of potential "significant drug shortages" if the substance were to be banned.

However, not everything is bad in nanoparticles. The boom in nanomedicine can be explained by the fact that this science would “improve the therapeutic efficacy of certain treatments”, underline the Kali journalists.

But without real supervision of the risks and without complete transparency on the subject, "you have to be careful," says the editor-in-chief. The latter considers that it would be necessary to "protect the fragile populations who ingest these substances".

A revision planned by the health authorities in three years

Following the request of the AVICENN association, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) took several years before providing a report on the subject, in which it recognizes that "the evolution of knowledge scientists on the risks associated with nanotechnology must lead legislators and the competent authorities to change this framework”, as we can read in Kali.

“The ANSM admits that the methods used to evaluate and authorize drugs must be updated”.

Solicited by actu.fr, the ANSM indicates that a “draft regulation on food additives provides for the moment to maintain titanium dioxide on the list of additives authorized in medicines. The draft regulation provides for a review of the situation within 3 years […]. Pending this 3-year review, the pharmaceutical industry must now take action to accelerate the search for alternatives aimed at replacing titanium dioxide in drugs. »

An online petition and a request for regulatory change will be sent to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Ecological Transition. The challenge would be to "bring the request to the European authorities thereafter", wishes Christelle Pangrazzi.

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