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.

Answer 5

           There is no significant evidence that correlates tattoos with the risk of lymphoma. The original source states that there was “only one study that addressed tattoos as a risk factor for lymphoma, but it was underpowered because of the small number of tattooed participants”. This claim has little to no research behind it that could tie the two together, and would need to be further researched to be certain that it is true. Based on Harvard Medical School, “Tattoos are not known to be a cause or risk factor for lymphoma”. There is some speculation about tattoos leading to lymphoma because of the ink and how the skin reacts to a tattoo, but it has not been studied much.

         Additionally,  the National Library of Medicine states that, “the possible combination of a variety of environmental exposures makes it difficult to describe the origin of disease development”. As of now, there is no way to certainly tell if tattoos have caused people to develop lymphoma or be more likely to. It is safe to say that due to the lack of research, the claim is false and misleading.

Answer 6

A study from Lund University in Sweden looked at almost 12,000 people, including nearly 3,000 who had been diagnosed with lymphoma, and discovered that people with tattoos had about a 21% higher relative risk of developing lymphoma in comparison to those who did not have tattoos. The researchers said that this doesn’t mean tattoos directly cause lymphoma, but there seems to be a connection. The size of the tattoo didn’t seem to make a difference in risk and the study highlights an association rather than proving a direct cause. The scientists also emphasize that more research is needed to understand why this link might exist and whether certain types of tattoos or inks could be factors.

Sources:

https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/possible-association-between-tattoos-and-lymphoma-revealed?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/possible-association-between-tattoos-and-lymphoma-revealed?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Answer 7

The main claim of this article is that tattoos increase the chances of Lymphoma by 21%. The original source is from a study published to eClinicalMedicine, the study was conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. Other articles on the same topic were done by Harvard Health, nih.gov, and Forbes magazine. The original source is legitimate, the published study notes that there are three authors: Christel Nielson, Mats Jerkeman, and Anna Saxne Jöud. The three authors are all researchers and/or professors at Lund University which makes the original source legitimate. The primary sources that discuss the same topic and that are legitimate is the one by Harvard Health, however it notes that the concerns put out about tattoos being linked to developing lymphoma is excessive due to the lack of research on the topic. A secondary source I found was the article by Forbes magazine; it essentially discusses the information about the study done by Lund University. Though the research is for medical concerns and purposes, it could possibly be a bias against tattoos. The article no doubt discourages people from getting tattoos despite the lack of extensive research, however the main goal seems to be about informing people on possible health concerns. The evidence from the study took into account many variables, including life-style choices such as smoking and how that could affect the outcome of the study. The research had a good basis, and their evidence supports their claim, but there still needs to be more research on the topic for more clarification.

Do tattoos cause lymphoma? - Harvard Health

Tattoos as a risk factor for malignant lymphoma: a population-based case–control study - ScienceDirect

Tattoos Linked To 21% Higher Malignant Lymphoma Risk, New Study Says