Overview
- The analysis of 15 black and colored inks from major brands purchased in Australia found every product failed at least one EU safety requirement.
- Eight EU‑restricted metals were detected across samples, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, antimony, copper, selenium and tin.
- Some inks contained banned organic compounds such as toluidine and sulphanilic acid, identified by untargeted LC‑MS/MS screening.
- Brightly colored inks showed very high levels of pigment‑associated metals like titanium, aluminum and zirconium, which are not restricted under current EU rules.
- The study measured chemical composition only, not exposure or health outcomes, and the authors call for routine monitoring and clearer oversight in Australia.