Lund, Sweden – A recent study conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden suggests a potential link between tattoos and malignant lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system. However, cancer experts caution that further research is necessary to fully understand this possible association.
The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, involved nearly 12,000 individuals in Sweden who were diagnosed with malignant lymphoma between 2007 and 2017. Researchers matched this group with a control group of similar age and gender who did not have cancer, aiming to investigate the long-term health effects of tattooing.
Malignant lymphoma is typically influenced by factors such as a weakened immune system, infections, age, family history, and exposure to certain chemicals. The study found that individuals with at least one tattoo had a 21% higher risk of malignant lymphoma, although this is considered an association rather than a direct link.
One of the researchers, Christel Nielsen, speculated that tattoos might trigger low-grade inflammation in the body, potentially leading to cancer development. However, the study did not find any evidence to suggest that the risk of cancer increased with the number of tattoos a person had.
Experts like Dr. Timothy Rebbeck from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are cautious about overstating the findings of the study. He emphasizes that the data is solid but argues that the main risk factors for lymphomas are not commonly found in tattooing.
Furthermore, Dr. Catherine Diefenbach of NYU Langone Health Perlmutter Cancer Center raises questions about the study’s findings, particularly the lack of correlation between tattoo size and cancer risk. She believes that more research is needed to validate these preliminary findings.
Tattoo ink, which can contain potentially carcinogenic chemicals, has been a topic of concern in previous studies. Some research suggests that tattoo ink particles can travel through the body and accumulate in the lymph nodes, potentially leading to health issues.
Despite the study’s implications, experts stress that there is no strong evidence to suggest that tattoos directly cause cancer. The debate surrounding the potential health risks of tattooing remains ongoing, with calls for further investigation into the matter.