Many tattoo inks available in Australia fail to meet current EU standards, with no national regulatory framework to protect consumers
In recent decades, millions of Australians have embraced body art – an estimated 30% of adults have a tattoo. Over a third of those with tattoos have five or more pieces.
Trend reporting from industry and lifestyle sources suggests designs are becoming increasingly large, colourful and complex. Although tattoos have become more common, less attention has been paid to what’s in the inks being injected into people’s skin.
William Alexander Donald is a professor of chemistry at UNSW, and Jake Violi is a postdoctoral fellow at UNSW. This article was first published on The Conversation