Tattoo ink cancer warning

Ink used in tattoos contain chemicals that can trigger cancer, say scientists. The warning comes as the popularity of body art soars, especially among the young. One in five Britons now has at least one tattoo, it is estimated. Dangerously, tiny particles of the pigment used in tattoos could travel in the blood from the skin, ending up in the body's internal organs. Professor Desmond Tobin, director of Bradford University's centre for skin sciences, believes toxins in the dyes enter the bloodstream and accumulate in the spleen or the kidneys - the organs which filter impurities from the blood. Manufacturers of tattoo ink admit that 5% of studios use inks containing cancer-causing compounds. Although tattoo studios must adhere to hygiene standards, there is no regulation over the types of inks used and the potential long-term health effects. Professor Tobin said: “I was frankly gobsmacked when I discovered there is no regulation whatsoever of these dyes. We need to do more work, but there is no question that these substances can be toxic.” Despite body art being a centuries-old practice, only in recent years has it become a part of mainstream culture as celebrities such as David Beckham and his wife Victoria, Angelina Jolie and Cheryl Cole have made it fashionable by showing off dozens of tattoos. Jolie, 38, has an estimated 17 designs and unveiled another new one on her arm as she filmed in Australia earlier this month. Jorgen Serup, professor of dermatology at Copenhagen University Hospital, is calling for information about tattoos to be recorded on national cancer-patient registries. His research found cancer-causing chemicals in 13 of 21 commonly used European tattoo inks. “Millions of Europeans are now being tattooed with chemical substances of unknown origin. It may be that, like cigarette smoking, they still choose to take the risk, but they need to be informed,” Serup said. The Tattoo Ink Manufacturers of Europe group says on its website: “Up to 5% of tattoo studios use inks containing carcinogenic aromatic amines. We want to reduce [these] to zero.” Tobin said more studies are needed to ensure the inks don't create a cancer time bomb. “It takes a long time for the multiple-step nature of cancer to show its face,” he said. “I don't think we should wait 20 years to see if there is anything wrong with these ingredients.” LONDON DAILY MAIL