Report blames body art for two deaths
It has also triggered a number of bacterial infections, including impetigo, toxic shock syndrome, tetanus, venereal ulcer, tuberculosis and leprosy.
A report on the dangers associated with body piercing and tattoos has prompted the European Commission to issue a warning that both practices can be a risky business leading to illness and death.
The experts who carried out the research estimate that up to half of piercings can lead to acute infections that need medical or even clinical treatment.
Yesterday they warned national governments to conduct information campaigns and make sure those carrying out body modification clean up their act.
It was not enough to ensure clean needles were used, the experts said. The colours and dyes also pose major problems, according to their research.
Most dyes used for tattoos are industrial pigments produced for painting cars or for writing inks and have not been tested for their safety on skin.
Other health risks include danger of contracting skin cancer, leprosy and a range of bacterial and fungal infections , or skin diseases such as psoriasis, photosensitisation, phototoxicity and photogenotoxicity.
"Except for a limited number of dyes and colorants that have been approved for use in cosmetics, most chemicals used in tattoos are industrial pigments," said the report.
The existing regulations are mostly limited to saying practitioners must use gloves and sterilize needles.
They do not deal with the critical issues of using only sterile materials, ensuring dyes and colours are safe and ensuring that the whole procedure is not potentially poisonous.
Scientists, medical professions, civil servants and representatives of the industry met recently in Italy to discuss the findings of the study.
To tackle the problem, the European Commission is working with the Council of Europe in preparing recommendations on tattoos and permanent make-up.
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