Scientists use intense X-ray synchrotron facility results to track the titanium dioxide nanoparticles that are released into one's body during the tattoo making process. The team observed that the process releases microscopic pigment particles that accumulate in the lymph nodes, an organ that is essential for the immune system.
Titanium dioxide, the most commonly used material in tattoo ink other than carbon black, is white pigment used in food additives, sunscreen, and paint. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, explains, this material is often mixed with other pigments to create different shades of tattooing.
"When someone wants to get a tattoo, they tend to be careful to use a sterile needle, but not much to check the chemical composition of the coloring material," said one study author, Dr. Hiram Castillo.
Adverse effects arising from the accumulation of the dye on the skin are associated with delayed healing, raised skin surface, and itching. Castillo said, potential tattoo users should be more wary of the element.
Dr Bernhard Hesse, another member of the ESRF team, said the research had not found evidence of serious health hazards associated with titanium dioxide in tattoos. However, he and his fellow scientists found that the released nanoparticles had unpredictable properties.
"They may not have the same behavior as particles at a micro level and that's the problem, we do not know how nanoparticles react," said Hesse, who plans to continue his studies by looking at tissue samples of people with bad effects from tattoos.
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