Safety fear over tattoo ink

Fears over the safety of inks used in tattoos emerged today.

A preliminary study of the most popular inks found dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals. Researchers say this could lead to nerve disorders, blood poisoning and even memory problems and have called for an investigation.

There are no regulations covering inks used in British and American tattoo parlours.

In the latest research, Leslie Wagner of Northern Arizona University analysed 17 tattoo inks, many of which are used in Britain. She found a number of different metals, such as nickel and copper. Some inks contained lithium and some had high levels of lead.

Recent reports have linked the inks with allergic reactions, burning sensations during MRI scans and the migration of tattoo inks to different areas of the body.

Tattoo artist Lal Hardy of Muswell Hill said: "We offer a patch test for customers to see if they have any reaction. The key is to use a reputable artist."