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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.08.02.668261

TICToK: A comprehensive knowledgebase of tattoo ink chemicals and investigation of their associated toxicities and regulations

Chivukula, N.·Madgaonkar, S. R.·Marigoudar, S. R.·Sharma, K. V.·Kishore, V.·Singh, A. V.·Samal, A.
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Abstract

Tattoos and permanent make-up, involving dermal injection of chemicals, are increasingly popular, with 30-40% of young adults in North America and Europe having at least one tattoo. Recent studies have suggested a possible association between tattooing and health risks, including skin cancers and lymphomas, although no definitive link has yet been established. This study comprehensively catalogs tattoo ink chemicals and investigates their potential adverse effects, addressing the urgent need for greater understanding of tattoo-related health concerns. First, 364 unique tattoo chemicals were identified from various scientific and regulatory sources, with nearly half functioning as pigments. Hazardous chemicals were identified, revealing carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and dermal toxicants. A regulatory analysis based on key EU regulations, including harmonised classifications under Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation, Restriction Entry 75 of the REACH regulation, Cosmetic Products Regulation (CPR), and SVHC candidate list, revealed existing regulatory coverage of tattoo ink chemicals. Curated chemical-disease associations highlighted that some tattoo chemicals are known to cause dermatitis. Further, diverse toxicological information, including experimental results from REACH dossiers, were integrated to construct stressor-AOP network linking 151 chemicals to 362 AOPs, revealing potential carcinogenic mechanisms associated with tattoo ink chemicals. A systems biology approach revealed potential immunomodulatory effects associated with these chemicals. Finally, all findings have been made available through the online database Tattoo Ink Chemicals and associated Toxicities Knowledgebase (TICToK; https://cb.imsc.res.in/tictok), which can support risk assessment and sustainable tattoo practices. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=81 SRC="FIGDIR/small/668261v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (37K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@6ce8e3org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2dc5aborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@10c67e6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1795281_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

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Chivukula, N., Madgaonkar, S. R., Marigoudar, S. R., Sharma, K. V., Kishore, V., Singh, A. V., Samal, A.. 2025-08-02. TICToK: A comprehensive knowledgebase of tattoo ink chemicals and investigation of their associated toxicities and regulations. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.02.668261

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