Identification of organic pigments in tattoo inks and permanent make-up using laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry.

ABSTRACT: Nowadays, about 12% of the European and 20% of the US population are tattooed. Rising concerns regarding consumer safety, led to legal restrictions on tattoo and permanent make-up (PMU) inks. Restrictions also include bans on certain colourants. Both ink types use organic pigments for colour-giving, plus inorganic pigments for white and black and colour tones. Pigments are only sparingly soluble in common solvents and occur as suspended particles in the ink matrix. Their detection and identification therefore pose a major challenge for laboratories involved in monitoring the legal compliance of tattoo inks and PMU. We overcame this challenge by developing a direct laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry method, which included an easy sample clean up. The method proved

SUBMITTER: Niederer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5728192 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature