Toxic Metals and Cancerous Compounds Found in Australian Tattoo Inks: Study

Each of the 15 tattoo inks analysed failed at least one EU safety regulation for tattoo inks, researchers found.
Toxic Metals and Cancerous Compounds Found in Australian Tattoo Inks: Study
A person receives a leg tattoo during the Brighton Tattoo Convention at Brighton Centre on February 22, 2025 in Brighton, England.Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images
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Tattoo inks sold in Australia have been found to contain toxic metals and cancerous compounds that do not meet European Union (EU) safety standards, an Australian study has found.

The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, found high levels of multiple regulated toxic substances, such as arsenic and lead, in 15 black and coloured tattoo inks purchased by Australian suppliers from established international tattoo ink brands.
However, the authors said this finding is not a cause for panic.

Toxic Metals and Carcinogens in Tattoo Ink

Restricted metals, including antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, and tin, were found above safe levels, the study found.