The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched an investigation after new research turned up troubling findings about toxic chemicals in tattoo ink. Recently published studies have found that the inks can contain a host of dodgy substances, including some phthalates, metals, and hydrocarbons that are carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. One chemical commonly used to make black tattoo ink called benzo(a)pyrene is known to be a potent carcinogen that causes skin cancer in animal tests.
Coloured inks often contain lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, titanium and other heavy metals that could trigger allergies or diseases, scientists say. Some pigments are industrial grade dyes ‘suitable for printers’ ink or automobile paint,’ according to an FDA fact sheet. Now the FDA has launched an investigation into the long-term safety of the inks, including what happens when they break down in the body or fade from light exposure.
An estimated 45million people in the U.S., including at least 36 per cent of adults in their late 30s, have at least one tattoo. The FDA has the power to control tattoo inks under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, but up to now the agency has not flexed its regulatory muscles.
A spokesman for the agency said: ‘Because the dyes and inks used in tattoos have not been approved by FDA, we do not know the specific composition of what these inks and dyes may contain.
Who would have guessed that injecting chemicals under the skin might be a bad idea? In my youth it was mainly bikers, prisoners and military people who got tats. Now it seems everyone is doing it. Yes, I’m shocked to hear the FDA is, once again, asleep at the switch.
Polynesian tattooing, in cultural rite use time proven dies derived from plants. Nothing is man made, even the needles.
Alright, we get it.
Tattoos are for stupid people.
Complaining on the internet is for smart people..
=)
#40 B – got a small lightning bolt on my back at 18 for rebellious reasons. In later years got a small sun on my shoulder during a conference in San Fran to signify my love of the outdoors. Undecided on a third one.
I find tattoos very sexy on guys and girls. Also find light face piercing sexy as well. Love to see self expression and the beauty of individuality.
Is somebody wants to mutilate their body, let them. My friend got hepatitis and died after an extensive tattoo was applied to his back.
When I see a girl with a tattoo, I imagine what it will look like forty years from now, on a wrinkly, dried up old pruny body.
No matter how colorful and pretty tattoos are at first, the all turn into a bruised blue ugly color in time. Black people look especially bad with a tattoo.
I hope all you tattoed people like how you look in twenty or thirty years.
Funniest guy I ever saw had about ten solid blue discs about one to two and a half inches in diameter tattoed on his face. He looked like a fucking clown joke.
Next rebel trend, after tongue piercings and earlobe enlargement and stupid words or pictures (Tweety Bird?… Really?)on your epidermis….. amputations and other pure mutilations.
How about just chopping off something small at first to be cool?
Come on… Lady GOO GOO will do it. She’s so hip.
The really cool people will be chopping off all sorts of things in short order. Maybe as performance art, too.
#43–Big D==both tats sound good to me. I’ll admit I’m attracted to having a row of barbed wire around my massive impressive right arm bicep. I’m going to get that tat right after I get the massive impressive bicep. Yep, thats what I’m gonna do.
Unrelated and unaddressed above, I recall hearing 2-3 jokes about the placement of various tats: what they look like to begin with and what they look like later–after years or after excitement and embiggenment. Couple of them were funny, but I just can’t recall them now.
Attention fat people: Tats don’t make you look cool or sexy. Tats just make you look like a fat, lazy lardass with a shit-ugly inkstain that you will be stuck with until you die. Seriously. This is the truth.
#46 agree. I imagine if you place a tattoo in an area prone to sagging, stretching or sun burning it will look like shit later.
If the fat, Rainforest Cafe tattoo guy above stays fat and out of the sun, he’ll be fine but likely die of something other than ink.
The words “awesome” and “tats” just fall together naturally, don’t they?
Throw in the word “douchebag” and you have the complete set.
Awesome yogurt.
Awesome weather.
Awesome decision.
Awesome disease.
Awesome vocabulary.
#49 pretty awesome post there.
#49–FactsOn/FactsOff==whats the matter Bunky? Rash acting up again?? Ha, ha. Poor old Faxon, cranky when he doesn’t get his bottle==of Jack Daniels.
but to your point: I’ve never seen and can’t contemplate what an awesome douchebag would be. Might that be YOU when traffic is delaying you getting to a shoot? Certainly, I can’t even imagine you NOT being a douchebag in such circumstances, but “awesome” still eludes me.
Keep up the good work Douch….I mean FactsOn. You’ll find the sweet spot eventually. I hear dusting with flour can help in that effort.
I’ve been called a curmudgeon myself but you take it to Alfie Levels. Hey—Alfie Level One Douchebag. Thats awesome.
((I’ll bet you have at least one tat: Mickey Mouse looking like an old camera? Come on FactsOn===tell the truth.))
Ha, ha.
#43 Dallas,
*cough* ever thought of getting a pair of bear paws tattooed *cough* on your buttcheeks?
#53 AW, I like where you’re going with that but sadly, no. I was thinking something less awesome!
Some of you people are so judgmental! WHO Cares!! Some people have tattoos, some people smoke, some people drink, They all do something to your body. Obviously, you have nothing better to do then run everyone else down for having a tattoo. If you at McDonald’s you could get cancer. Stop judging, be happy your alive!!
Random tattoos are stupid and meaningless leave the tatoos for the correst purpose! All these jack asses tattoing flowers and fish and meaningless shit, leave the tattoos for the hell bound mutherfuckers like me that mark our bodies to show the number of trash that we have murdered, all you faggot that judge for hating them and all you faggots that get bullshit ink deserve a bat across the mouth fuck you all and ill see you in hell !
interesting information, it may not know this many people, including myself who have tattoos. I’ll go check out the tattoo on my body whether or not to endanger tuh. And will also provide this information to friends.