Thai Department of Medical Science issues warning on tattoo ink

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Warning issued on tattoo ink
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Department of Medical Sciences warned that some tattoo ink might contain metals and bacteria leading to skin problems including cancer.

Citing the department's recent random tests on 52 tattoo-ink samples, department chief Dr Apichai Mongkol yesterday said the Bureau of Cosmetics and Hazardous Substances found four samples contained arsenic as high as 14.64 micrograms per gram, and four other samples had cadmium as high as 7.89mcg/g. Asean regulations on cosmetic products mandate arsenic contamination of less than 5mcg/g, while Thai law requires cadmium to be less than 3mcg/g.

Thirteen samples contained bacteria and one contained Pseudo-monas aeruginosa, Apichai said. The bacteria rate was 35,000 to 10 million colonies per gram, compared with the safety standard of 1,000 per gram.

He said prolonged exposure to the metals in question could cause skin cancer, while bacteria cause infections to lungs, or skin and eye irritations. P aeruginosa is the cause of ecthyma gangrenosum, a skin infection.

As the Food and Drug Administration did not categorise tattoo ink as a type of cosmetic,The risk of substances that are not sterile was prominent, hence people - especially women keen on tattooing lips and eyebrows - should be cautious and get the services from reliable sources.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Warning-issued-on-tattoo-ink-30262564.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-18

[tracker1]

Surely wouldn't think of closing them down or enforcing the law ! just advise clients to be cautious where you get done and use reliable sources only

[Canuk23]

Can we get the name brand of this ink, My girlfriend does eyebrow tattoos ???

[peterb17]

Personally I don't really like tattoos - especially the blurry full sleeve varieties - looks as if you have some scary skin disease- but it's fashion- nothing more .

Most coloured inks would involve a metallic compound- cadmium gives a red colour- chrome yellow etc. Introducing cadmium into your blood stream - not a good idea.

Cadmium has no biological function and is considered a toxin.

A large percentage of young people seem to be covered with tattoos- not just something small on your shoulder.

Maybe in the future there will be health warnings- Apparantly some inks build up in lymph nodes- which are a vital part of the immune system- so tattoo induced cancer anyone?

[snowgard]

Typical Thai Report!!! Why they never give the Brands of the dangerous products? So are ALL TATTOO INKs are dangerous!!!

[chrisinth]

Surely wouldn't think of closing them down or enforcing the law ! just advise clients to be cautious where you get done and use reliable sources only

It appears, according to the OP that the Food and Drug Administration do not categorise tattoo ink as a type of cosmetic, therefore it is likely to be an uncontrolled product unless it falls under some other category.

If that is the case, as to it being uncontrolled, there is no law to enforce...........................

[peterb17]

Typical Thai Report!!! Why they never give the Brands of the dangerous products? So are ALL TATTOO INKs are dangerous!!!

Probably

The black inks are basically made of soot and are probably the safest.

It is the coloured inks- especially those containing heavy metals such as cadmium that are potential very dangerous. if you hunt about - there are some articles on all the different pigments used.

If you puncture the skin, some of the ink will find its way into the bloodstream. That is why you are unable to donate blood for several months after a tattoo.

However fluid drains from your tissues into the lymphatic system- passes through lymph nodes ( mainly located in groin, neck and under your arms- there are many more ) there have been reports of lymph nodes becoming coloured.

As some of the ingredients used are carcinogenic - not good news.

There are some medics who say do not have a tattoo. Of course as ever the vast tattoo industry will tell you it's all safe.

Who knows ( in a drunken stupor) what some Bangkok backstreet guy is putting into your body- could well be arsenic, cadmium, chromium, beryllium or some other tasty chemical .

[Rogergreybeard]

If your stupid enough to play with fire in third world countries, go ahead and suffer the consequences later

[maidee]

hey look at me, i've got a tattoo, i am different, like everybody else

sometimes i see some people with tattoo of their mother, wife, children ...

once farang dude even has 2 pics of children / angels on his arms, but he never had, as his wife cannot get pregnant (2 miscarriages after artificial insemination)