Toxic nanoparticles in tattoo inks may harm your immune system
(World News Science)

BERLIN: Getting a permanent tattoo can cause toxic nanoparticles to travel inside the body, leading to chronic enlargement of the lymph nodes - an important part of our immune system, a study has warned. Toxic impurities that make up the ink in tattoos can travel inside the body in the form of nanoparticles and affect the lymph nodes, researchers said. Little is known about the potential impurities in the colour mixture applied to the skin. Most tattoo inks contain organic pigments, but also include preservatives and contaminants like nickel, chromium, manganese or cobalt. Besides carbon black, the second most common ingredient used in tattoo inks is titanium dioxide (TiO2), a...