Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Hazardous Metal Content in Tattoo Cosmetics and Tattoo Inks

타투화장품 및 문신용 염료의 유해금속 함량 연구

  • Mi Sun Kim (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment) ;
  • Su Un Kim (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment) ;
  • Sam Ju Jung (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment) ;
  • Young Eun Kim (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment) ;
  • Min Jung Kim (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment) ;
  • Myung Sook Lee (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment) ;
  • In Sook Hwang (Cosmetic Research Team, Food and Drug Department, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment)
  • 김미선 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀) ;
  • 김수언 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀) ;
  • 정삼주 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀) ;
  • 김영은 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀) ;
  • 김민정 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀) ;
  • 이명숙 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀) ;
  • 황인숙 (서울특별시보건환경연구원 식품의약품부 화장품연구팀)
  • Received : 2023.03.21
  • Accepted : 2023.04.19
  • Published : 2023.04.30
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Abstract

Background: Along with the increase in consumer interest in and consumption of tattoo products, the controversy over harmful heavy metals associated with the use of tattoo cosmetics is also increasing. Therefore, investigation of hazardous metals in these tattoo products is needed. Objectives: This study was performed to provide useful data for establishing reasonable standards to securely manage tattoo cosmetics, tattoo stickers, and tattoo inks distributed in the market. Methods: Thirteen kinds of hazardous metal contents (Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr, Se, Ba, Zn, Sn, and Hg) were analyzed for 23 tattoo cosmetics, ten tattoo stickers, and 16 tattoo inks. Hg was measured through the combustion-gold amalgamation method, and other hazardous metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acidic decomposition using a microwave apparatus. Results: The detected ranges of Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Ni, and Hg in tattoo cosmetics were 0.07~1.18, 0.06~0.41, ND~0.07, 0.01~3.44, 0.12~2.75, and ND~0.01 ㎍/g, respectively. All of the hazardous metals detected were below the recommended maximum standards of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The mean amount of Pb detected in tattoo stickers for children was 0.24 ㎍/kg and Cd was not detected, meaning both metals met the recommended criteria. There was no statistically significant difference in all measured metals between children's tattoo stickers and adults' tattoo stickers. In the results of the study on the hazardous metal content of tattoo inks, four products (25%) for Pb, one product (6%) for As, 13 products (81%) for Ni, four products (25%) for Cu, and five products (31%) for Zn exceeded the recommended standards approved by the government. The highest predicted exposure amount for hazardous metals exceeding the recommended level of tattoo inks in a single tattooing was 5.69 ㎍/kg for Ni, 8.51 ㎍/kg for Zn, 0.44 ㎍/kg for Pb, 8.07 ㎍/kg for Cu, 0.44 ㎍/kg for As, and 71.36 ㎍/kg for Ba. Conclusions: It is necessary to prepare criteria for content limitation for the management of Co, Cr, Ba and Se tattoo cosmetics, and tattoo inks require thorough quality control.

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