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2144585 
Journal Article 
Extraction Procedure Of Tattoo Pigments From Skin 
Engel, E; Baumler, W; Maisch, T; Ulrich, H; Konig, B; Landthaler, M; Gopee, NV; Howard, PC; Vasold, R 
2006 
1 
Toxicological Sciences
ISSN: 1096-6080
EISSN: 1096-0929 
TOX/6001359 
90 
1-S 
eng 
Tattooing is quite popular in the US and Europe with more than 10% of the population having at least one decorative tattoo. This popularity has also led to increased demand for tattoo removal. High intensity laser light has evolved as the preferred method for tattoo removal. Our recent investigations have detected laser-facilitated decomposition products of tattoo pigments that are potentially toxic or carcinogenic. The concentration of tattoo pigments and their decomposition products in skin following laser treatment needs to be determined in order to quantify the human health risk from tattoo pigment photodecomposition. We present a method to determine the concentration of two widely-used tattoo pigments (pigment red 22 and pigment red 9) and their decomposition products 4-nitrotoluene (4NT), 2-methyl-5-nitroaniline (MNA), naphthol AS (NAS), 1,4- dichlorobenzene (DCB), 2,5-dichloroaniline (DCA) and methoxy-naphthol AS (MNAS) in skin. The extraction methodology was established initially by adding the target analytes to water or phosphate buffered saline, followed by extraction with dichloromethane/methanol. Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether was added to the extract and dichloromethane/methanol removed with heat and dry-nitrogen. The internal standard (9,10-diphenyl-anthracene) was added, the samples diluted with chloroform and analysed by HPLC. The recovery rates following addition of the compounds to water were: pigment red 22 (96.3?2.4%), 4NT (98.6?6.8%), MNA (99.5?2.4%), NAS (99.2?0.6%), pigment red 9 (92.1?1.4%), DCB (74.5?7.7%), DCA (101.2?3.6%) and MNAS (92.9?1.7%). The recovery rates when phosphate buffered saline was used were quite similar. Pigment red 22 and pigment red 9 were added to excised skin of mice, and the recovery was70%. Despite the complex chemistry of skin, a quantitative extraction of pigments and its decomposition products from skin is possible. This methodology will become the basis for future risk assessment studies.