Scientists At The Swierk Research Group Discover Tattoo Ink “Could Contain Possible Carcinogens” But Say “The Vast Majority Of Tattoos Seem To Be Generally Safe”

By Sidra Lackey

According to Dr. Alexandria C Wellman, a resident in the combined Anatomical and Clinical Pathology program at the University of California Los Angeles, reporting for ABC News in her article, “Tattoo ink is under-regulated, scientists say,” Dr. Wellman said researchers at The Swierk Group are concerned about the safety of tattoo ink. Dr. Wellman reported The Swierk Group of the Department of Chemistry of Binghamton University, found through their research, “ink isn't always properly labeled and, in some instances, could contain possible carcinogens.”

What is a carcinogen? Cancer.gov (the U.S. government’s principal agency for cancer research) says it is any substance that causes cancer. “But simply because a substance has been designated as a carcinogen does not mean that the substance will necessarily cause cancer.”

Cancer.gov goes on to explain, “Many factors influence whether a person exposed to a carcinogen will develop cancer, including the amount and duration of the exposure and the individual’s genetic background.” 

The bigger problem, The Swierk Group proclaimed in Dr. Wellman’s reporting is that tattoo ink is “relatively unregulated” (meaning  ingredients inside inks aren’t always known).

The Swierk Group is led by Dr. John Swierk. On the website: What’s in my ink? launched by the group on the safety of tattoo ink, states: “It's important to note that the vast majority of tattoos seem to be generally safe, however, we don't really understand the potential risks of tattoos. The scientific and medical literature do document many instances of undesired reactions to tattoos, with long-term allergic reactions being most common.” He and his team, “seek to understand the molecular composition of tattoo inks, so that artists and customers alike may be empowered with knowledge about their inks and any potential risks they may pose.”

At The American Chemical Society Fall 2022 meeting, Dr. Swierk said in a press release for ACS, “Every time we looked at one of the inks, we found something that gave me pause. For example, 23 of 56 different inks analyzed to date suggest an azo-containing dye is present.” Many azo pigments do not cause health concerns when they are chemically intact, bacteria or ultraviolet light can degrade them into another nitrogen-based compound that is a potential carcinogen, according to the Joint Research Centre, which provides independent scientific advice to the European Union, ACS reported in, “Exposing what’s in tattoo ink.” The Swierk Group also analyzed 16 inks using electron microscopy, and about half contained particles smaller than 100 nm in their research. “That’s a concerning size range. Particles of this size can get through the cell membrane and potentially cause harm,” Dr. Swierk remarked. 

“Exposing what’s in tattoo ink,” explained how inks can sometimes be harmful: Tattoo inks contain two parts: a pigment and a carrier solution. The pigment could be a molecular compound such as a blue pigment; a solid compound such as titanium dioxide, which is white; or a combination of the two compound types such as light blue ink, which contains both the molecular blue pigment and titanium dioxide. The carrier solution transports the pigment to the middle layer of skin and typically helps make the pigment more soluble. It can also control the viscosity of the ink solution and sometimes includes an anti-inflammatory ingredient. Also during Dr. Swierk’s research, Swierk and his team interviewed tattoo artists to see what they knew about the inks they use on their clients. Dr. Swierk said the artists could identify a brand they preferred, but didn’t know much about the ink’s contents. “Surprisingly, no dye shop makes pigment specific for tattoo ink. Big companies manufacture pigments for everything, such as paint and textiles. These same pigments are used in tattoo inks,” Dr. Swierk pointed out.

With the safety of tattoo ink up for debate more than ever, will there be an increase of companies creating pigment specific for tattoo ink? In the meantime, tattoo collectors and tattoo artists, does The Swierk Group’s alarming research make you anxious to get tattooed or to tattoo? If you have serious safety concerns and want to know more about the tattoo inks The Swierk Group analyzed, check out: http://whatsinmyink.com/