Unlisted and Potentially Harmful Ingredients Found in Tattoo Inks, According to a U.S. Lab

Tattoo ink may contain a lot more than the pigments needed to create beautiful body art, a new study warns.

Researchers analyzed 54 inks from 9 U.S. manufacturers and identified potentially harmful substances that weren’t on the label.

The researchers say 90% of the inks contained different pigments than the ones listed … or additives that weren’t mentioned.

According to the results, more than half of the products contained unlisted polyethylene glycol, which can cause organ damage at high levels.

And 15 inks contained propylene glycol, which is a potential allergen.

The analysis also uncovered an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections and a chemical preservative that may pose health risks to nursing infants.

The researchers say they can’t tell whether the unlisted ingredients were added intentionally or if the manufacturer was given mislabeled or contaminated materials.

One chemist says, “We’re hoping the manufacturers take this as an opportunity to reevaluate their processes, and that artists and clients take this as an opportunity to push for better labeling and manufacturing.”

At the end of 2022, Congress passed legislation allowing the FDA to regulate tattoo inks for the first time.