Modified Cotton Cleans Itself When Exposed to Sunlight

Nice!

I wonder what happens if I get caught in the rain and then later I go walking in the sun, drying my clothes as I wear them? How does titanium dioxide effect my skin?

For the long term, can I breath this
titanium dioxide from my clothes?

FYI:
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/titanium_dioxide/health_td.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/277187-health-effects-of-using-titanium-oxide-in-skin-cream/
.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense.
Religion sees beyond the senses.

Cool. I wonder how much more these shirts will cost.

Well I doubt titanium is toxic to the human body, because it's used in surgeries all the time. That said, this shirt sounds a fire hazard.

Add laundry to the list of "Things you will not be doing in 40 years".

Titanium Dioxide: Used in smog-killing sprays, self-cleaning shirts, and McDonald's salads!

I wonder if it works on woollen and synthetic products (see another article from today regarding bee-silk). Imagine how much energy/water could be saved if the majority of our clothes were coated with this stuff! Just to make it better, we could run string through this process to give the entire garment this protection from the "ground up" so to speak. Another question is if there is any remnant of the stain, and how long it took to erase it.

@NoOneYouKnow: well, just because titanium itself isn't harmful, doesn't mean titanium dioxide isn't.

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why learn from your own mistakes, when you could learn from the mistakes of others?
“The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible” -Albert Ein

I remember seeing some hokey tv show a LONG time back, mid-late 80's or so where they said they had a guy that claimed to be from the future, he had a few quarters with the dates on them and he claimed he had self cleaning underwear, they had him locked in a straight jacket, laughing at his "self cleaning" underwear... so when I saw this I was instantly reminded of that airing... wish I could remember the program, it was one of those "fake portrayed as real, real but looked fake" sort of tv shows that were just coming around... it would be crazy as hell if it were true.

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC

I think the simple fact that Titanium Dioxide is used in toothpaste, skim milk, various foods, medicines and sunscreen should prove enough that it's "safe for human contact"

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC

CodeZero,
My grandfather worked years with asbestos. He said back then everyone said it was safe, no worries.

My father worked for company years ago, making transformers for the electric company. They filled them with dioxin oil for cooling the transformers. That was considering safe back then too. Later the company went out of business.

My grandfather at the end suffocated to the end to his death.

What's the deal with all the Titanium Dioxide articles?

@rettaH i noticed that too, has popsci been sitting on these articles or are they actually finding out that titanium dioxide is a pretty nifty thing?

to mars or bust!

I'm pretty sure the "m" on each M&M is TiO2 as well. Those aren't too terribly toxic I hear....

FYI, this really could be a great product!!!
I just want people to be safe too.

*Looks out window* But it's cloudy and rainy for 8 months of the year here!

I recall a few years ago concern from the FDA I believe that regarding the over-use of nano particles in everyday objects from lipstick to lotions to paints. No one was sure of the long term effects of nano particles. The concern was that nano particles are so small they can work much deeper into tissues and cells than normal "particles." While titanium and titanium oxide is used extensively (in many products and heavily in foods) those are "normal" sized particles. Just because something is safe one way, doesn't mean its safe other ways. Salt (NaCl) is necessary for life, but sodium or chlorine in their own form will kill you. But even if this really works and dirt gets neutralized, the residue doesn't vanish. I'm sure it still needs to be washed regularly due to that.

THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR USE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FIELD FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.