Blood levels of titanium before and after oral administration of titanium dioxide

The normal titanium levels in the blood of males between 24 and 66 years of age were found to be 11.2 mug/l (rsd 4.1). After oral administration of ti tanium dioxide containing capsules or as powder (anatas) it could be observ ed that the material can be absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract. If t wo titanium dioxide qualities, having different mean particle sizes (0.16 m um and 0.38 mum), are administered orally, the latter shows less absorption , most likely due to agglomeration phenomena, The blood concentration/time correlation shows the type of curves which are characteristic for a persorp tion mechanism of absorption and reveal a high individual fluctuation. An i ncrease of the administered dose by twice the amount shows only a tendentio us response in the corresponding blood levels. The method of analysis was I CP-AES. A pretreatment of the samples in order to eliminate the organic mat rix is necessary.