January 20, 2026
All tattoo inks tested recently in Australia by researchers were found to exceed European Union safety standards.
Researchers found the inks contained toxic metals and other substances including antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium and tin.
Exceptionally high pigment metal concentrations were also identified, including titanium.
But despite the findings, the researchers said the results should not be interpreted as evidence that tattoos directly cause harm.
The study, co-authored by Professor William Alex Donald from UNSW in Sydney, was published in the Journal Of Hazardous Materials.
It analysed the chemical composition of 15 black and coloured tattoo inks from major international tattoo ink brands bought from Australian suppliers.
Every ink tested failed current EU safety regulations but the authors said their findings should not cause panic because the study measured chemical composition not health outcomes.
The study also did not assess how much of the substances were absorbed by the body or what effects they could have over time.
Since 2022, the EU has strictly enforced chemical limits for tattoo inks.
However, Australia has no binding national regulatory framework that aligns with those standards and instead relies on voluntary compliance.
Surveys have estimated more than 20 per cent of Australian adults have at least one tattoo.
“We need further targeted studies to confirm the specific chemical forms of some regulated substances,” Prof Donald said.
“This means examining how inks behave once injected into the skin.
“It also means understanding how factors such as ageing, sunlight exposure and tattoo removal might influence long-term exposure.
“So the results are best seen as a signal for closer scrutiny, rather than a verdict on the safety of tattooing itself.
“Because tattooing is now a mainstream form of body art, regular monitoring and aligning Australia’s standards with international best practice just makes sense.”
The researchers suggested Australia should introduce routine sampling and testing across brands and batches of inks.
