When examining the lymph nodes of someone with many tattoos under a microscope, you can observe tiny metal particles scattered throughout.
It is well understood that metal nanoparticles can enter the body through tattooing. Once inside, they circulate until the immune system captures them in lymph nodes, which are located in various parts of the body including the armpits, groin, and neck.
● Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands found throughout your body. They are part of your immune system and play a crucial role in fighting infections. These nodes trap and filter out harmful substances, like bacteria and viruses, helping to protect your body and keep it healthy.
● The groin is the area between the abdomen and the thigh on either side of the pubic bone. This is where your stomach ends and your legs begin. The groin area contains the hip joints and several muscles that help with leg movement.
It was once thought that the contamination originated from the inks used in tattooing, but recent research indicates this is not the case.
Researchers have found that nickel and chromium detected in the lymph nodes of individuals with tattoos actually come from the tattoo machine’s needles, according to a study published in the Particle and Fibre Toxicology Journal and reported by IFL Science.
Tattoos involve more than just what you see. It’s not only about how clean the shop is, how well the equipment is sterilized, or the types of ink used. Hiram Castillo, a researcher involved in the study, noted that the wear of the tattoo needle also affects the body, as reported by IFL Science.
Researchers at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Germany initiated their study by examining the tissues from both tattooed and non-tattooed deceased individuals. In the lymph node tissues of individuals with tattoos, the researchers discovered particles of iron, chromium, and nickel, measuring between 50 nanometers and 2 micrometers. Although they may seem tiny, nanoparticles can be more hazardous than larger particles because their greater surface-to-volume ratio allows them to release more toxic substances.
● The surface-to-volume ratio indicates the relationship between the surface area of an object and its total volume. Essentially, it tells you how much exterior surface there is per unit of volume inside the object. For example, a thin, flat object like a sheet of paper has a high surface-to-volume ratio because it has a lot of surface area exposed compared to its small volume. On the other hand, a compact object like a sphere has a lower surface-to-volume ratio because it has less surface area relative to its volume. This ratio is important because processes that occur on the surface, like absorption or heat exchange, are more efficient in objects with higher surface-to-volume ratios.
● Volume refers to the amount of space that an object occupies. It’s a three-dimensional measurement of how much room an object takes up. For instance, the volume of a box is calculated by multiplying its length by its width by its height. In everyday terms, volume is what we measure when we determine how much liquid fits into a container or how much air is in a room.
Surprisingly, these metals were not commonly present in the tattoo inks, leading the researchers to search for other potential sources. We analyzed about 50 ink samples and did not detect any metal particles, confirming that there was no contamination during the sample preparation process.”Then we decided to test the needle, and that was when we had our ‘eureka’ moment,” said Ines Schreiver, a scientist at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the study’s corresponding author, as reported by IFL Science.
Further investigation revealed that green, blue, and red tattoo inks include a white pigment known as titanium dioxide, which can cause the needle to wear down. Black ink, on the other hand, does not contain this pigment, resulting in less wear on the needle.
This finding might explain why some people experience allergic reactions to tattoos. However, the broader health effects of having lymph nodes filled with nanoparticles are still not fully understood. At present, there is minimal evidence linking tattoos to any broader health issues, but the researchers intend to explore this area more thoroughly before drawing any definitive conclusions.
“Currently, we’re unable to pinpoint the specific health impacts or potential for allergy development caused by wear from tattoo needles,” explained Schreiver. “These are long-term effects that require long-term epidemiological studies, tracking the health of thousands over many years,” as reported by IFL Science.
(Views expressed in the article are of author’s own and do not reflect the editorial stance of Business Upturn)