Health warning for tattoos

Would you in inject car paint into your skin? This is the question the European Commission is asking those planning a tattoo after new research into the possible health hazards of body adornment.

The latest study into tattooing has found

that most chemicals used in tattoos are industrial pigments originally produced for other purposes, such as car paints or writing ink.

The EC are so concerned that they have issued a new warning about the health risks of tattoos and body piercing. The Commission said too little was known about the chemical structure and toxicity of tattoos.

European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin said: "If people want to tattoo or pierce their bodies, we would like them to do so with proper health and safety guarantees.

"At the moment there is little or no safety data to back up the use of such chemicals in tattoos."

"I hope the results from our EU research will raise awareness of the hazards associated with this practice and encourage practitioners in the tattooing profession to respect safety requirements."

The Commission research states that, "when health standards are disregarded", tattooing and body piercing can cause viral infections such as hepatitis, as well as bacterial and fungal infections, skin allergies, malignant lesions such as melanoma and even HIV and "leprosy and other devastating diseases".

It is estimated that up to half of piercings require medical treatment, usually from acute infections, and there have been two piercing-related deaths in Europe this year.

Current rules in Europe cover basic hygiene requirements in tattooing parlours, such as the sterilisation of needles, but do not cover the purity of dyes and colours or toxicological "risk evaluation".

Scientists, medical professionals and the piercing and tattooing industry have agreed that "action is needed" said the Commissioner.

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