Lab test raises alarm: 13 of 15 children's temporary tattoos contaminated with concerning chemicals

Statement from the expert and the environmental organization

South Tyrolean dermatologist Alexandra Vent explains: "For products that are specifically marketed for children and remain on the skin for hours, compliance with legal limit values should not be the sole focus." Rather, it must also be examined whether the contained substances are necessary at all and whether avoidable contamination could be further reduced. "Equally important is the question of whether each individual chemical substance is actually required or whether technically avoidable impurities could be further reduced. From a medical perspective, the precautionary principle should apply here."

Madeleine Drescher, consumer expert at Greenpeace in Austria, demanded: "The contaminated temporary tattoos must disappear from all shelves and online shops immediately." For Greenpeace, the test reveals a "systematic failure in product safety." The environmental organization called on the responsible minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) for a strong ban on all PFAS as well as stricter chemical rules that take "cocktail effects" into account in limit values.

Deficiencies in labeling

The organizations also criticized the labeling of the products. On Amazon, ingredient information was completely missing, and some products lacked both a batch number and a production date. "Retailers and manufacturers must now take responsibility and make the health of our children the top priority," it continued.

Noteworthy products from Temu, SHEIN, and Bipa

The highest number of different substances was found by the lab in the "Happywinds Freckle Tattoos" purchased from Temu: the product contained reprotoxic chemicals as well as a suspected carcinogenic substance, with the total concentration of plasticizers exceeding 250 milligrams per kilogram. The animal and pirate tattoos purchased from SHEIN were also contaminated with PFAS and reprotoxic substances, respectively.

The Bipa private-label "Look by Bipa Festivaltattoos" contained the solvent isophorone, which is also classified as suspected of causing cancer. The product also bore no batch number and no production date. The "essence/cosonova Festivaltattoos" purchased from dm contained, according to the testers, a reprotoxic and a suspected carcinogenic chemical at a concentration of more than 250 milligrams per kilogram – likewise without a batch number and production date.

The "Totum Unicorn Tattoos" and "Spiegelburg Dragon Tattoos" purchased from Müller contained PFAS as well as PTFE and the azo dye CI 11710, according to the ingredient declaration. The "Folat Football Tattoos" from the same company contained a suspected reprotoxic chemical. At Thalia, the "Rico Festival Tattoos" stood out for containing PFAS, the plasticizer bis(2-ethylhexyl) fumarate, and lead, while the "Djeco Butterfly Tattoos" also contained lead.

Political reaction

For the Amazon products "Kihoni Glitter Tattoos," "Rong Festival Tattoos," and "Boyatong Animal Tattoos," ingredient information was completely missing; all three contained a suspected carcinogenic chemical, and in "Rong" the plasticizer concentration likewise exceeded 250 milligrams per kilogram. "Boyatong" was already sold out at the time of publication – as were the "Zillor Art Sea Creature Tattoos" from Temu.

Consumer Protection State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) stated: "Temporary tattoos are part of summer for many children – which makes it all the more important that parents can rely on these products being safe." She emphasized: "Products that come into direct contact with children's skin must meet the highest safety requirements. Where labeling obligations are violated or irregularities are identified, we will act consistently."

What the testers recommend

The Ministry of Health announced that it would carefully assess and review the available test results. The results were being taken seriously, the ministry said. No concrete measures were initially named.

The examination is a random sample of 15 products. The testers point out that the test does not reflect the entire market. It is notable, however, that the contamination is not an isolated case but affects products from different retail chains and online platforms – from Thalia and Müller to Bipa and dm, and on to Temu, SHEIN, and Amazon.

South Tyrolean dermatologist Alexandra Vent sees the precautionary principle as primarily responsible: from a medical perspective, greater scrutiny is needed of whether the detected substances are necessary at all in products for children. The combination of multiple substances on the skin may be underestimated in the process.

Greenpeace and the Chamber of Labor Upper Austria are calling for, in addition to a PFAS ban, a reform of chemical rules that more strongly takes combined exposures – so-called cocktail effects – into account. The full report is available online.

For parents in the short term: those who do not want to do without temporary tattoos should choose products that did not stand out in the test and pay attention to complete ingredient lists, batch numbers, and date of manufacture. The organizations recommend refraining from temporary tattoos in case of doubt until regulations are tightened.