Silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide particles found in human tissues
What it found
Tiny particles of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide were found in liver, spleen, kidney and intestinal tissue from 15 deceased people.
The authors say food, toothpaste and medicines are likely sources.
What they found
Total silicon and titanium
Total silicon ranged from less than 2 to 191 mg Si/kg tissue. Total titanium ranged from less than 0.01 to 2.0 mg Ti/kg tissue.
Particle amounts
Particulate silicon dioxide ranged from less than 0.2 to 25 mg Si/kg and explained about 10% of total silicon. Particulate titanium dioxide ranged from 0.01 to 1.8 mg Ti/kg and explained about 80% of total titanium.
Higher amounts in intestine
Titanium dioxide concentrations were higher in the jejunum and ileum than in liver, spleen and kidney. This fits with oral exposure being the main source.
Likely sources
The authors say the particle sizes match those used in food, toothpaste and medicines. They think at least some of the particles come from these products.
How it was done
The authors wanted to know whether these particles, which are used in many consumer and food products, end up in human organs. They say little was known about the amounts in people.
They analysed liver, spleen, kidney, jejunum and ileum tissue from 15 deceased people (7 men and 8 women, aged 64 to 98). They measured total silicon and titanium, and particulate silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide, using mass spectrometry and electron microscopy.
What it can’t tell you
- This study looked at tissue from 15 people after death, so it cannot show how the particles got there or when.
- It cannot show whether these particles cause any health effects.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), The Netherlands; University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
The paper
- Title
- Silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide particles found in human tissues
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Peters RJB, Oomen AG, van Bemmel G, et al (2020). Silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide particles found in human tissues. Nanotoxicology. doi:10.1080/17435390.2020.1718232Free full textPubMed 31994971DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error