http://www.care2.com/greenliving/are-tattoos-toxic.html
Are Tattoos Toxic?
Q: Is the ink from tattoos dangerous for my health?
A: There’s very little evidence that tattoo ink is hazardous to your health (unless you count the mental stress that comes from the regret of having one done). When tattoo ink is injected into the epidermis, the skin reacts by protectively encapsulating the alien clumps of pigment in dense fibrous tissue and nearby lymph nodes collect what migrates out of the tissue. Low levels of carcinogens (cancer causing substances) have been identified in the ink, so as this ink sits trapped under the skin, you may be putting the nearby cells at risk.
Dr. Brent Ridge is the health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You can call and ask him a question live every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112 (1.866.675.6675). You can also follow along as he learns to grow his own food, raise goats, and make goat milk soap on his farm in upstate New York by visiting www.beekman1802.com.
Got a health question for Dr. Brent? E-mail him at drbrent@care2.com.
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25 comments
add your comment »and i think they are ugly
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i hate tattos
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I HAVE 2 TATOOS THAT I LOVE DEARLY!!! THEY ARE BOTH WONDERFUL MEMORIES AND ARTWORK THAT I DESIGNED MYSELF!!! I LOVE BODY ART/TATTOOS AND PEIRCINGS TOO!!! I LOVE TO BE ORIGINAL AND I ALWAYS WILL!!! I GOTTA BE ME. I DONT CARE WHAT ANY ELSE THINKS OR SAYS ABOUT ME EITHER!!! I LOVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE!!!
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Ow..Daniel, for shame to display such ignorant judgments. Although I am an artist and don't myself have a tattoo, my daughter just got one. It is in respect for her beloved father, who just passed away, last year. Do you think her recent tattoo is going to convert her from the straight A college student that she is now, to a sponging, corrupt loser? Because I am an artist, do you consider me starving?
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excuse me... not "change", I meant chance.
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I think the most dangerous thing about getting a tattoo is the risk of contracting
the Hepatitis C virus. If the artist is not consistent in throwing away used needles and
sterilizing his/her equipment you run a very high change of getting this virus, which has no cure. I love tattoo's. I like them on other people also. But be sure to go to a reputable, clean place to have it done.
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Daniel W, you must be the most ignorant person I've come across in quite a while. My husband, college grad, formerly a construction engineer and successful real estate agent recently put all of that on hold to join the military and defend his country...wow what a loser, huh? Did I mention he has a tatoo? Next time you stereotype someone maybe think first before speaking. Also, my husband is planning on going to medical school after the military. Wonder if you would care if the person saving your life had a tatoo or not? Something for you think about, Daniel!
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thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
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Daniel W. that comment is a textbook case of stereotyping. I know many men and women with tattoos that have good or even great paying jobs and don't sponge off their girlfriend/boyfriend or any other family member and several are college graduates, including myself. Try thinking outside the box every now and then Daniel, the air is much fresher!
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Tattoos may not be very toxic, but they're usually a good sign that someone is an unemployed loser who lives off his girlfriend while "working" in a tattoo shop.
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