The majority of tattoo inks used in the United States are
contaminated with unlisted chemicals that cause serious health issues,
including organ damage, scientists have warned.
The study,
published in the Analytical Chemistry journal in Feburary, investigated
nine different brands of tattoo ink sold in the United States, from
minor to major brands.
Out of the 54 inks of the nine brands analyzed by researchers, 45 (83
percent) were found to contain “unlisted additives and/or pigments”
linked to organ failure.
“Major, unlisted adulterants include polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and higher alkanes. Many of the adulterants pose possible allergic or other health risks.”
Over half of the inks contained unlisted
polyethylene glycol, which causes organ damages following repeated
exposure. Fifteen inks contained propylene glycol, a potential allergen.
Some contained a compound called 2-phenoxyethanol that posed health
risks to nursing infants while other inks were contaminated with an
antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections.
“Taken together, the results from this study highlight the
potential for a significant issue around inaccurate tattoo ink labeling
in the United States,” the study stated.
The research was unable to identify whether unlisted ingredients were
added unintentionally or whether the manufacturer was provided with
contaminated materials. It is also unknown whether the manufacturer
incorrectly labeled the inks.
Risks associated with tattooing usually focus on skin cancer and
reaction to the pigments. However, ink additives can be dangerous as
well, including having negative impacts beyond the skin. If a person
with a tattoo starts experiencing reactions, unlisted ingredients can
make it challenging to ascertain what reaction is happening and why it
is occurring.
“We’re hoping the manufacturers take this as an opportunity to reevaluate their processes, and
that artists and clients take this as an opportunity to push for better
labeling and manufacturing,” said John Swierk, an assistant professor
of chemistry at Binghamton University who is also an author of the
study.
Tatto Ink Regulation
It was only recently that regulation on tattoo ink was introduced in
the United States. In late 2022, Congress passed the Modernization of
Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), allowing the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to regulate tattoo inks for the first time,
including regulating labeling practices.
Before the Act was passed, tattoo inks were considered to be cosmetic
and not subject to regulations. “The FDA is still figuring out what
that is going to look like and we think this study will influence the
discussions around MoCRA,” Mr. Swierk stated.
“This is also the first study to explicitly look at inks sold
in the United States and is probably the most comprehensive because it
looks at the pigments, which nominally stay in the skin, and the carrier
package, which is what the pigment is suspended in.”
The study only focused on substances present in quantities of 2,000
parts per million (ppm) or more, which are usually considered to be high
concentrations.
However, in Europe, even substances in the range of just two ppm are
considered by authorities when assessing risks. As such, the tattoo inks
could contain even more potentially toxic substances than what the
study has found.
Tattoo Ink Risks
A 2021 study on
tattoo inks conducted in the European Union arrived at similar
conclusions. It analyzed 73 tattoo inks in the market, investigating
labels as well as ingredients.
The study found that “ninety-three percent of the bought tattoo inks violated European, legal requirements on labeling.”
“Fifty percent of the tattoo inks declared at least one pigment
ingredient incorrectly,” authors wrote. “Sixty-one percent of the inks
contained pigments of concern, especially red inks.”
Main metals detected in the inks included iron, aluminum, titanium, and copper, most of which were in green or blue inks. “The levels of iron, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, and arsenic were found to covary significantly.”
Researchers of the study called on tattoo ink manufacturers to follow
regulations and minimize the presence of nickel and chromium impurities
to prevent allergy and toxic reactions among users.
A December 2016 retrospective study looked
at 493 health complications resulting from tattooing among 405
individuals. They identified 184 cases of allergic reactions, 53
instances of bacterial infections, and 46 psycho-social complications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked people
to “think before you ink.” Multiple research studies have “reported
that some inks contain pigments used in printer toner or in car paint,“
the agency stated, adding that it ”has not approved any pigments for
injection into the skin for cosmetic purposes.”
After receiving a tattoo, the person may see some redness, swelling,
or warmth on the skin. If the tattooed area does not heal or if there is
a rash forming in the region, the FDA advises people to contact their
healthcare professional. This is especially true if they develop a
fever.
“More aggressive infections may cause high fever, shaking, chills, and sweats. Treating
such infections might require a variety of antibiotics—possibly for
months—or even hospitalization and/or surgery. A rash may also mean
you’re having an allergic reaction. And because the inks are permanent,
the reaction may persist,” the FDA warned.
“Scar tissue may form when you get a tattoo, or you could develop
‘granulomas,’ small knots or bumps that may form around material that
the body perceives as foreign. If you tend to get keloids—scars that
grow beyond normal boundaries—you may develop the same kind of reaction
to the tattoo.”
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Planet Today
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://www.planet-today.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.