National survey of health in the tattoo industry: Observational study of 448 French tattooists

• Authors: Nicolas Kluger

Abstracts

EN

Objectives The data regarding the health of professional tattooists is inexistent. Tattooists are usually heavily tattooed and exposed daily to body fluids and skin-to-skin contacts with customers, tattoo inks, solvents, allergens, irritants, and work for hours often in inadequate positions using vibrating tattoo machines. We analyzed the health status of active French professional tattooists. Material and Methods An observational self-reported Internet survey was performed among 448 tattooists who were members of the French Tattoo Union in November 2013. Results The main physical complaints were musculoskeletal: back pain (65%), finger pain (41.5%) and muscular pain (28.8%). Finger pain, back pain, muscular pain and carpal tunnel symptoms/tingling sensations on the fingers occurred among 88%, 61.5%, 68% and 84% of the cases after having started their activity (p < 0.001). Other chronic diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancers remained at a low level here. Conclusions Professional tattooists have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints about back pain due to repetitive movements, awkward postures and use of a vibrating tattoo machine. Tattooists have a unique environment that imply developing intervention and preventive strategies for them. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(1):111–120

Keywords

EN

occupational diseases; tattooing; musculoskeletal diseases; ink; carpal tunnel syndrome; Raynaud phenomenon

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 111-120

Dates

published

2017

Contributors

author

Nicolas Kluger

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland (Departments of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology)
• Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (Department of Skin and Allergic Diseases)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00634

Biblioteka Nauki

2161929