Getting a tattoo can result in metallic nanoparticles being introduced into the body via the bloodstream. This was discovered by looking at the lymph nodes of a heavily tattooed person – they are sprinkled with microscopic metal pieces. That’s because when the metal bits enter the bloodstream, they are pumped around until they get caught by the immune system in one of the lymph nodes found throughout the body – including in the armpit, groin, and neck.
Up until recently, researchers thought that the contamination came from the inks. Now, in the light of a new study, they know that is not the case. Scientists from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Germany have reported in the Particle and Fibre Toxicology journal that the traces of nickel and chromium found in the lymph nodes of tattooed people actually come from the needle of the tattoo gun.
Hiram Castillo, one of the authors of the study, explained:
“There is more to tattoos than meets the eye. It is not only about the cleanliness of the parlour, the sterilization of the equipment or even about the pigments. Now we find that the needle wear also has an impact in your body.”
This is one of the most important things you need to learn while getting educated in this field. It’s important to know how to properly clean and sterilize your equipment and needles if you want to become a professional tattoo artist so that you can avoid any potential health risks for both yourself and your clients. It’s also important to educate your clients about the process of getting a tattoo, including the potential risks involved.
The team began their investigation by analyzing the tissues of deceased tattooed and non-tattooed people. They found particles of iron, chromium, and nickel ranging from 50 nanometers to 2 micrometers in size within the lymph node tissues of the inked-up cohort. What they came to realize was that those specific metals weren’t commonly found in the tattoo inks, which meant that what was previously assumed was probably wrong. This led the team to start searching for other possible sources.
Ines Schreiver, corresponding author and scientist at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, said:
“We tested around 50 ink samples without finding such metal particles and made sure that we hadn’t contaminated the samples during sample preparation. Then we thought of testing the needle and that was our ‘eureka’ moment.”
When they really got deep into the investigation, they found that green, blue, and red tattoo inks contain a white pigment called titanium dioxide, which can wear away at the needle. Black ink doesn’t contain this pigment, so the needle wears down less. This discovery could be why tattoos sometimes cause allergic reactions in people.
The researchers still don’t know if there are any health implications to having a lymph node loaded with metallic nanoparticles. For now, there is no evidence linking tattoos to any health problems. However, the researchers would like to investigate the matter further before settling on any conclusion. To really know, they would have to conduct long-term epidemiological studies that monitor the health of thousands of people over decades, said Schreiver.
