Their research also found a disheartening mismatch between the listed ink container contents and its actual chemical composition found on testing. That group found barium, copper, mercury and other unsafe components in tattoo inks.

The European Society of Tattoo and Pigment Research was established in 2013 with a mission of educating the public about the “fundamental facts about tattooing” which many in the younger generations ignore. Even more concerning, carcinogens were identified in 83 percent of black inks – by far the most popular color for tattoos. In fact, one in five tattoo inks contained carcinogenic chemicals, and a vast majority of the inks tested did not comply with international health safety standards for ink composition, an Australian government-sponsored study found. To my surprise, there were a host of reports of ink complications, infections, toxin effects, scarring, burns, chronic irritations, and much more.Īmong the concerns are the long-term effects tattoo inks can have on the immune system, pathology specimen interpretation, and other unforeseen health complications.Ĭertain tattoo inks can be toxic, with some containing carcinogenic compounds, a 2012 Danish Environmental Protection Agency study found. What I found was myriad unexpected and sometimes shocking concerns that everyone should know.

My goal was to write a quick reference for teens that reviewed the health and social issues they might encounter after getting a tattoo. With no source (reliable or otherwise) of tattoo information to suggest to my patients, I began to investigate the topic myself.

Beholder tattoo