Worrying ingredients found in tattoo inks made in the US
By 
Rebecca Trager2022-09-01T08:30:00
Azo-containing dyes and nanoparticles discovered in US tattoo inks often aren’t listed on labels
An analysis of almost 100 tattoo inks in the US, including examining the particle size and molecular composition of their pigments, has turned up concerning ingredients that are not listed by manufacturers. These inks are manufactured in the US and then shipped globally.
The research, led by chemist John Swierk at Binghamton University in the US, was presented at the autumn meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Swierk’s team discovered azo-containing dyes in 23 of 56 inks analysed. When intact many azo-pigments don’t pose health problems, but some of them can release carcinogenic aromatic amines.
Exposure to bacteria or ultraviolet light can cause these dyes to break down into compounds that are potentially carcinogenic, according to the European commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), which provides the EU with independent scientific advice.