Heavy Metals in Tattoo Inks: Developing an Analytical Methodology for Accessing Customer Safety

Tattoo inks contains metal salts or different types of coloured organic molecules. To the best of our knowledge, there are few data on the concentration of hazardous metals in tattoo inks sold online or by makeshift hawkers. The aim of this work was to organize an analytical methodology to ensure the simultaneous quantitative determination of 18 elements in a complex matrix, like inks for tattooing, by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The total concentrations of metals in the 16 analysed tattoo ink samples ranged from 0.060 to 16.9 g kg−1. Zinc is the most present metal in the samples, in fact it is in the range 3.4–13882 mg kg−1. In three of the 16 samples the zinc concentrations exceed those required by legislation (2000 μg g−1). Cr concentration in all cases is higher than allowed (0.5 μg g−1). The weight loss by heating the ink samples to 105 °C and, subsequently, to 550 °C showed that in all cases the volatile component (ethanol, solvents, etc.) varies from 48 (Wh1) to 95 %, while the percentages of the residue at 550 °C ranged from 0 % (BK0) to 47 % (Wh1). Considering values limit, four of analysed samples should not be used by tattoo artists. Tattoo inks contains metal salts or different types of coloured organic molecules. We organized a methodology to quantify, after appropriate treatment of the samples (contain glycerine!!!), 18 elements in inks for tattooing by ICP‐MS. The total concentrations of metals in the 16 inks ranged from 0.060 to 16.9 g kg−1. Zinc is the most present metal in the samples and in three samples exceed those required by legislation. Cr concentration in all cases is higher than allowed.