New Study Reveals Path of Tattoo Ink in the Human Body

Recent research conducted by scientists at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has shed light on how tattoo inks interact with the human body. This groundbreaking study, featured in the journal Archives of Toxicology, meticulously traced the movement and metabolism of liquid components in tattoo inks, revealing that the proportion of ink that stays in the body is much lower than previously believed.

Dr. Ines Schreiver, leading the research at the Dermatotoxicology Study Center, noted that while the accumulation of color pigments in lymph nodes has been established, the behavior and distribution of the liquid components of tattoo ink had not been thoroughly examined until now. The findings of this study are expected to enhance the understanding of potential health risks associated with tattooing.

In the study, 24 participants received tattoos of their choice in a controlled environment at the Charité hospital in Berlin, executed by experienced tattoo artists. Each session lasted approximately three and a half hours, during which blood and urine samples were collected at various intervals before, during, and after the tattooing process.

Utilizing marker substances, the researchers were able to track how these liquid components are processed in the body. The study discovered that metabolites from the tattoo inks appeared in the bloodstream shortly after the tattooing commenced, indicating that the metabolic response differs from that observed when substances are ingested orally. Notably, one of the markers was metabolized into other compounds more frequently than expected, a phenomenon attributed to specific enzymes present in skin cells.

The total amount of tattoo ink used was meticulously recorded, with ink bottles weighed before and after the sessions. Furthermore, all materials involved in the tattooing process, including needles and gloves, were collected to assess ink residue. The results indicated that only about 20% of the ink applied actually penetrated the skin. The remainder was expelled through the wounds as they healed.

This exposure data is anticipated to facilitate more precise evaluations of health risks associated with chemicals found in tattoo inks, thereby contributing to safer tattooing practices in the future.

For further details, refer to the study published by Susanne Kochs et al., titled Tat_BioV: tattoo ink exposure and biokinetics of selected tracers in a short-term clinical study of 24 subjects, available in Archives of Toxicology.