EU alert · Safety Gate Serious risk Chemical products
Tattoo ink Colour King “Black” — risk: chemical
Published in the Safety Gate weekly report: · Ref. A12/1845/19
Summary
The product contains an excessive amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (measured total value: 1.88 mg/kg), benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium and lead (measured values: 320 µg/kg, 0.52 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, respectively). These PAHs and benzo[a]pyrenemay cause cancer and are also mutagenic and toxic for reproduction.Cadmium is harmful to human health because it accumulates in the body, can damage the kidney and…
A Safety Gate alert means that national authorities found a serious or relevant risk and took measures. The same product may also be sold under other names or online.
Product
Tattoo ink — Colour King
- Brand
- Colour King
- Name / model
- Black
- Category
- Chemical products
- Black tattoo ink in a transparent plastic bottle with a dispenser cap. The product was sold online (in particular via lightinthebox.com).
What is the risk?
- The product contains an excessive amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (measured total value: 1.88 mg/kg), benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium and lead (measured values: 320 µg/kg, 0.52 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, respectively). These PAHs and benzo[a]pyrenemay cause cancer and are also mutagenic and toxic for reproduction.Cadmium is harmful to human health because it accumulates in the body, can damage the kidney and bones, and it may cause cancer.Lead is harmful to human health, accumulates in the body, can cause developmental neurotoxicity and may also affect breast-fed or unborn children.The Council of Europe Resolution ResAP (2008)1 on requirements and criteria for the safety of tattoos and permanent make-up recommends that the levels of impurities of PAHs in tattoo inks do not exceed 0,5 mg/kg, of benzo[a]pyrene 5 µg/kg, of cadmium 0.2 mg/kg and of lead 2 mg/kg.
Measures taken
- Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): OtherCategory of measure(s): Notifying about the risk
- Date of entry into force: 30/10/2019
Photos
Source: Safety Gate — European Commission
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