Tattoo Inks May Pose Health Risks

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting tattoo artists, ink and pigment manufacturers, public health officials, health care professionals and consumers that some tattoo inks and the pigments used to color them may be harmful.

The agency is saying that the inks can become contaminated with a variety of bacteria, mold, and fungus. Contaminated inks are known to have caused serious infections in people in at least five states over the past year, according to the FDA.

The family of bacteria called nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), which has been linked to a 2011-2012 outbreak of infections, is of particular concern. M. chelonae, one of several disease-causing NTM species, can cause a rash or raised red bumps in a tattooed area within a couple of weeks of receiving a tattoo. The infection can be difficult to diagnose and may be mistaken for an “allergic” reaction.

The bacteria can also cause lung disease, joint infection, eye problems, and other organ infections, and can require treatment lasting six months or more.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe product, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyermay be able to help you. For legal assistance, please call 800-581-6358.

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