https://newatlas.com/medical/tattoos-lymphoma-risk/

Bonus link: 83% of tattoo inks contain hidden ingredients linked to cancer, organ damage: study

From the NewAtlas article at top:

Getting a tattoo, regardless of its size, increases the risk of developing lymphoma by 21%, according to a new study.

. . . Tattoos are much more common than they were a couple of decades ago. According to the Pew Research Center, 32% of US adults have one, and 22% have more than one. Now considered to be more socially acceptable, everyone – from pop stars to politicians – seems to be sporting ink.

. . . The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It keeps body fluid levels in balance and defends against infection. There are two main types of cancer affecting the lymphatic system: non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which accounts for around 90% of all lymphomas, and Hodgkin lymphoma. There are about 40 subtypes of NHL, which differ in how fast they grow and spread. NHL is one of the most common cancers in the US and can occur at any age.

. . . Previous studies have found particles of tattoo ink – and, indeed, metal nanoparticles from the tattoo needle itself – can travel to the lymph nodes.

“We already know that when the tattoo ink is injected into the skin, the body interprets this as something foreign that should not be there and the immune system is activated,” Nielsen said. “A large part of the ink is transported away from the skin to the lymph nodes, where it is deposited.”