① Coatings: The downstream demand structure of domestic and overseas titanium dioxide is similar. Coatings are the largest application fields, accounting for 61% of the consumption. Among the four components of paint products, namely resin, pigments and fillers, solvents and additives, titanium dioxide accounts for 10% to 25% of the total cost, accounting for more than 90% of the total amount of pigments and fillers, and more than 95% of the total amount of white pigments.

In a review published in 2022 in the journal Archives of Toxicology, researchers found that the ingestion of E171 is a “a definite health risk for consumers and their progeny.” After reviewing dozens of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro studies on the toxicity of E171, the researchers wrote that two facts must be noted: “First, reprotoxicity studies show that animals of both sexes are impacted by the toxicity of these nanoparticles, underlining the importance of conducting in vivo studies using both male and female animals. Second, human exposure begins in utero via maternal-fetal transfer and continues after birth by breastfeeding. Children are then chronically re-exposed due to their food preferences. To be relevant to the human in vivo situation, experimental studies should therefore consider nanoparticle exposure with respect to the age or life period of the studied population.”

Barium sulfide is produced by carbothermic reduction of barium sulfate. Zinc sulfate is obtained from a variety of zinc products, often waste, by treatment with sulfuric acid.

Faber argued there hasn't been enough change in these federal regulations in the decades following the FDA's approval of titanium dioxide – especially as others increasingly point to potential health consequences.

The presence of so many lithopone factories in China has also led to advancements in production technology and quality control. Chinese manufacturers have invested heavily in research and development to improve the performance of their lithopone products, leading to higher quality and more consistent products on the market. This has helped to cement China's reputation as a leading producer of lithopone on the global stage.

There are numerous manufacturers of titanium dioxide; the largest include Delaware-based Chemours (a spin-off of DuPont Chemical), Texas-based Kronos, and China-based Lomon Billions Group, all of which manufacture pigments for use in products like paints, coatings, and plastics. UK-based Venator is a major supplier of titanium dioxide used in food and cosmetics, along with paints, paper, plastic, and more. As a pigment, it is called Pigment White 6 (PW6), titanium white, or CI 77891. As a food additive, it is known as E171.