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.
