Research on the chemical-legal context in the manufacture of tattoo inks

Tattooing has been present in people’s lives long before it was seen as a form of artistic expression. The earliest evidence of tattoos has been discovered as far back as 3300 BC. The mummy later named Ötzi the Iceland man was found in the Austrian Alps and showed 57 tattoos in the form of lines in the joint area. This is the first documentation of the tattoo and its meaning. Whether we are talking about therapeutic, religious, social-hierarchical or group membership meanings, tattoos are rapidly spreading across the globe. Although in the beginning materials of mineral, animal or vegetable origin were used, with the development of the chemical industry, the first organic and inorganic pigments obtained by synthesis appeared. Later, the first electric tattooing machine appeared. Thus, modern tattooing methods involve the introduction of pigments into the dermis using needles. As expected, the popularity of tattooing increased, but so did the appearance of adverse effects. The large number of such cases of toxicity has led to the need for legislative regulations on these inks and more. In 2003, the Council of Europe issued its first resolution on inks for tattoos and permanent make-up, and a revision of this resolution followed in 2008. Subsequently, several countries such as the Netherlands, France, Switzerland integrate these recommendations into national legislation. Worldwide, several agencies have issued warnings or bans for certain components (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Even though we have some legislative regulations, they are not comprehensive enough, not documented enough, do not present common analytical methods for elemental detection or application rules. Also, many countries have not yet taken measures regarding client safety or there is no designated body to monitor the negative effects associated with tattoos. Due so, we need to extend our research and provide more evidence for a common legislative frame.