Tattoos Increase Risk of Developing Lymphoma by 21%, New Study Finds

Question

This claim is TRUE:

The original article was published on the People Magazine website. It got its data from a study by Lund University in Sweden. When you search for “Lymphoma”, “Tattoo”, and “Lund University”, an article on the university’s website appears. The website is officially affiliated with a real university, and the information aligns with that in the People article.

With evidence, I believe that the claim is true, due to the reliability of the source and the original article not altering the data or making outlandish claims. 

Answer 1

While it is true that a study found a slightly higher amount of lymphoma in subjects with tattoos, and the numbers are generally correct in the article, the article fails to comment on the fact that this was a single study. In fact, Harvard Health Publishing wrote an article on the misconception. There have not been enough studies done to prove a connection between having tattoos and getting lymphoma. Several studies suggest a link, while several don't.

At this point in time, there's just not enough information to conclusively say that tattoos cause an increase in lymphoma. It's certainly possible, but unproven.

(1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537024002281

(2) https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-tattoos-cause-lymphoma-202407193059

(3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38827888/

(4) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32699076/

(5) https://scitechdaily.com/concerning-new-research-links-tattoo-ink-to-increased-cancer-risk/#:~:text=Are%20some%20ink%20colors%20worse%20than%20others?,does%20not%20mean%20that%20color%20is%20irrelevant.

Answer 2

A 2024 Swedish population-based case–control study explored the possible connection between tattoos and malignant lymphoma. In a study including 1,398 lymphoma cases and 4,193 controls aged 20–60, the researchers found that individuals with tattoos had a 21% higher relative risk of developing lymphoma than those without tattoos (Nielsen, Jerkeman, & Jöud, 2024). This increased risk was most evident within two years of tattoo acquisition. The study adjusted for confounders such as age, sex, and smoking. Although the findings show a statistical association, they are observational and do not prove a causal relationship. Secondary sources such as Harvard Health (2024) and Medical News Today (2024) note that lymphoma is rare, so the absolute risk remains low. They warn that the 21% figure can be misleading without proper context, potentially exaggerating the perceived danger. The research appears minimally biased; it was conducted by Lund University researchers, funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life, and Welfare, and reported no conflicts of interest. Media often oversimplifies such findings, omitting qualifiers like “association only” or “observational study,” which can cause false impressions of causation.

In summary, while there is a statistical link between tattoos and lymphoma, claiming that tattoos “increase the risk of developing lymphoma by 21%” is misleading. The study does not establish causation, and the overall risk remains low. Individuals contemplating tattoos should consider these findings, but also recognize that further research is necessary to confirm the connection and understand possible biological mechanisms.

Answer 3

A 2024 Swedish population-based case–control study explored the possible connection between tattoos and malignant lymphoma. In a study including 1,398 lymphoma cases and 4,193 controls aged 20–60, the researchers found that individuals with tattoos had a 21% higher relative risk of developing lymphoma than those without tattoos (Nielsen, Jerkeman, & Jöud, 2024). This increased risk was most evident within two years of tattoo acquisition. The study adjusted for confounders such as age, sex, and smoking. Although the findings show a statistical association, they are observational and do not prove a causal relationship. Secondary sources such as Harvard Health (2024) and Medical News Today (2024) note that lymphoma is rare, so the absolute risk remains low. They warn that the 21% figure can be misleading without proper context, potentially exaggerating the perceived danger. The research appears minimally biased; it was conducted by Lund University researchers, funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life, and Welfare, and reported no conflicts of interest. The media often oversimplifies such findings, omitting qualifiers like “association only” or “observational study,” which can cause false impressions of causation.

In summary, while there is a statistical link between tattoos and lymphoma, claiming that tattoos “increase the risk of developing lymphoma by 21%” is misleading. The study does not establish causation, and the overall risk remains low. Individuals contemplating tattoos should consider these findings, but also recognize that further research is necessary to confirm the connection and understand possible biological mechanisms.

Answer 4

A recent population-based case–control study in Sweden examined the link between tattoos and the risk of developing malignant lymphoma. The study involved 1,398 lymphoma cases and 4,193 controls aged 20–60 and found that people with tattoos had a 21% higher risk of developing lymphoma compared to those without tattoos (Nielsen, Jerkeman, & Jöud, 2024). The increased risk was most noticeable within two years of getting a tattoo, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.81. The study accounted for potential confounders such as age, sex, and smoking habits. Although the findings suggest a higher risk, the authors warn that this is an observational result and does not prove that tattoos cause lymphoma. Secondary sources, including Harvard Health (2024) and Medical News Today (2024), stress that although the relative risk seems higher, lymphoma is a rare disease, and the actual risk for people with tattoos remains low. They also note that further research is needed to confirm and clarify these links. Potential biases in the research are minimal; the study was conducted by researchers at Lund University and funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life, and Welfare, with no conflicts of interest reported. Secondary sources give balanced views, emphasizing context and warning against overstating the results. In summary, while there is a statistical link between tattoos and a higher risk of lymphoma, current evidence does not establish causation. People considering tattoos should be aware of this potential risk, but also recognize that lymphoma is still a rare condition. More studies are needed to understand the biological reasons for this link and to verify the findings in larger populations.