Tattoo ink and cancer

Photo from the ABC

Is there a link between tattoo inks and cancer?  Last year, a literature review, Tattoos, inks, and cancer by Kluger and Koljonen was published in Lancet Oncology. The authors concluded that "The number of skin cancers arising in tattoos is seemingly low, and this association has to be considered thus far as coincidental." Recently the issue has been raised again in the media, with Ian Olver, Clinical Professor of Oncology at Cancer Council Australia, penning a piece in The Conversation, To dye for?  Jury still out on tattoo ink causing cancer.  Olver concludes that more research is needed to find out whether the pigments and metallic elements in some tattoo dyes are used in great enough quantities to cause cancer.  He says individuals must weigh the risk and benefits themselves.

ABC Radio's Background Briefing also recently featured a program on the toxicity of inks and the lack of health regulations surrounding tattooing. Epidemic of Ink reported that tattoo ink containing polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at levels above European guidelines have been found in Australia in a preliminary study by the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology. You can read a summary of the program or download the one hour investigation from their website.