Chemistry+of+Tattoo+Ink



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[|https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464189/#R31] A recent study, using a model system of mice tattooed with a commonly used ink to investigate the transportation and photo-decomposition of tattoo pigment particles [30], reported that the amount of ink in the mouse skin had reduced by 32 ± 16% of its initial value 42 days after tattooing. Furthermore, exposure of tattooed skin to simulated sun light and laser light also reduced the amount of ink particles retained in the skin [30]. A related study examined the distribution and accumulation of micrometre- and nanometre-sized silver particles following subcutaneous injection in rats, and found that silver nanoparticles were distributed throughout the main organs especially kidney, liver, spleen, brain and lungs [31]. By contrast, the micrometre-sized silver particles did not get into the blood circulation.

Professional tattoo ink pigments may be made from plants, plastics, iron oxides, or metal salts. Homemade inks may be made from dirt, soot, plants, pen ink, blood or an unknown array of other possible ingredients.

Some Known Ingredients of Tattoo Inks:

Heavy Metals: Aluminum Barium Cadmium Chromium Cobalt Copper Iron Lead Mercury Nickel Titanium Zinc

Metal Oxides: Ferrocyanide Ferricyanide

Organic Chemicals: Azo chemicals Naptha derivative chemicals Carbon Polycyclic compounds

Other Compounds: Antimony Arsenic Beryllium Calcium Lithium Phosphorus Selenium Silica Sulfur Titanium dioxide Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)

Common Ingredients of Inks by Color

Red: mercury, cadmium, iron, ferrocyanide, ferricyanide, naptha derived chemicals

Orange: cadmium, azo chemicals

Yellow: lead, cadmium, zinc, ferrocyanide, ferricyanide, azo chemicals

Green: lead, chromium, aluminum, copper, ferrocyanide, ferricyanide, azo chemicals

Blue: cobalt, copper, ferrocyanide, ferricyanide

Violet: aluminum, azo chemicals

Brown: iron, azo chemicals

Black: nickel, iron, carbon as soot or ash, black henna

White: lead, zinc, titanium, barium