A recent study from researchers at UNSW Sydney has raised concerns about what may be lurking inside some tattoo inks sold in Australia. The researchers found that a range of popular black and coloured tattoo inks contain toxic metals and potentially cancer-causing chemicals at levels that would not be allowed under strict European Union safety laws.
The study examined 15 tattoo inks from renowned international brands acquired from Australian suppliers. When tested against current EU regulations, every single ink failed to meet at least one safety requirement. However, the researchers stress that the report does not mean people should panic or rush to remove their tattoos.
Instead, they argue the findings highlight a major regulatory gap in Australia. Unlike the European Union, which has enforced legally binding safety limits for tattoo inks since 2022, Australia currently relies on voluntary compliance by manufacturers and infrequent government testing.
Tattoo ink is not just paint on the skin. It is a complex mixture of pigments, solvents and additives that is injected deeply into living tissue, where it can remain for decades. This means any harmful substances in the ink have a direct and long-term pathway into the body, bypassing many of the skin’s natural protective barriers.
The researchers, using advanced laboratory techniques, detected eight metals restricted under EU law: arsenic, cadmium, lead, chromium, copper, antimony, selenium, and tin. Each of these substances exceeded European limits in at least one ink. Some inks also contained banned organic compounds, including toluidine, a known carcinogenic aromatic amine, and sulphanilic acid, which is not considered suitable for use in products designed for long-term exposure inside the body.
Brightly coloured inks raise additional concerns. Some were found to have very high concentrations of metals linked to pigments, such as titanium, aluminium and zirconium. One light-blue ink contained titanium levels as high as 10,000 parts per million.
Although these metals are not yet banned under European tattoo-ink rules, finding them in such high amounts has raised eyebrows. This is particularly important because tattoo pigments don’t always stay where they are placed over time; some particles can move from the skin into nearby lymph nodes.
However, the researchers caution against making hasty assumptions about potential health risks. Their work examined what is inside the inks, not how the body responds to them over months or years. How much of these substances are absorbed, how they change as tattoos age, and what happens when skin is exposed to sunlight or laser removal are all factors that still need closer investigation.
The team also stresses that having a tattoo does not automatically mean someone is in danger. Tattoos are common; more than one in five Australian adults has at least one, and there is currently no clear evidence directly linking tattoo inks to specific long-term health problems. For now, the findings are best viewed as a reason for further research and better oversight, rather than a cause for fear. We should interpret the results as a cautionary indication, not as evidence of tattooing’s inherent danger.
The study began in an unexpected way as a high school science project. One of the co-authors, Bianca Tasevski, first asked a simple question during her final year of school: what exactly is in the tattoo inks sold in Australia? That question grew into a full scientific investigation involving multiple researchers and sophisticated testing methods.
Globally, similar studies have found widespread non-compliance with EU standards. Investigations in the US, Sweden and Turkey have all identified labelling issues and excessive levels of toxic metals in tattoo inks. Australia’s last government survey was conducted in 2016, with an update in 2018, and predated Europe’s current regulations.
The researchers argue that as tattooing becomes increasingly mainstream, Australia should introduce routine testing of tattoo inks and align its standards with international best practice. For those considering tattoos, health organisations recommend asking studios whether their inks comply with current European safety regulations.
