A new study has discovered that most tattoo inks contain dangerous substances that can allegedly cause organ damage after repeated exposure.
The study, published on February 22 in ACS Publications, examined nine brands of ink commonly used in tattoo parlors across the United States. Of the 54 inks analyzed, 45 (or 83%) were concluded to have unlisted additives and/or pigments. As such, the study calls attention to the widespread inaccuracy of tattoo ink labeling in the U.S. market.
The study revealed unlisted adulterants like poly(ethylene glycol), propylene glycol, and higher alkanes.
Some of these unlisted adulterants are known to cause allergic reactions or other health risks.
- More than half of the inks assessed contained unlisted polyethylene glycol, repeated exposure of which can lead to organ damage.
- Over two dozen inks contained propylene glycol, an allergen for some individuals.
- Some of the tested ink contained 2-phenoxyethanol, a possible hazard to nursing babies.
- Other inks contain an antibiotic known for treating urinary tract infections.
John Swierk, the study’s co-author and a professor of chemistry at Binghamton University, says the conclusions raise concerns about the discrepancies in the labeling of tattoo ink.
“If there are unlisted things in there and people are having problems, it makes it harder to understand where those problems may be coming from,” he says, per Chemical & Engineering News.
Tattoo ink has only recently begun to be regulated in the U.S. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), which allows the FDA to regulate ink, was only passed in 2022. Before its passing, tattoo inks were considered cosmetic, so they did not fall under any regulatory body.
“The FDA is still figuring out what that is going to look like and we think this study will influence the discussions around MoCRA… 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,” said Swierk.
It is unknown whether the unlisted ingredients were included intentionally or if they appeared due to contamination.
