Tattooing regulations in U.S. States, 2011
Valeria P Carlson1, Everett J Lehman, Myrna Armstrong
1Health Department Systems, Development Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. guz6@cdc.gov
Journal of Environmental Health
|October 25, 2012
Summary
State tattooing regulations vary widely, with only 14 states effectively regulating sanitation, training, and infection control. Public health agencies must promote evidence-based tattooing laws to ensure safety.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Regulatory Science
- Dermatology
Background:
- The increasing popularity of tattooing has raised public health concerns due to potential medical complications arising from unsanitary practices.
- Existing state regulations for tattooing practices are under scrutiny for their effectiveness in safeguarding public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of current state tattooing laws and regulations in protecting public health.
- To assess the effectiveness of state rules concerning sanitation, training, and infection control in the tattooing industry.
Main Methods:
- A 10-item checklist was developed for three key regulatory areas: sanitation, training, and infection control.
- State regulations were categorized as effective (score ≥7 in all categories), moderate (score ≥4 in all categories), minimal (score <4 in one category), or ineffective (score ≤2 in all categories).
Main Results:
- Forty-one states have statutes regulating tattooing. Of these, 36 states effectively regulate sanitation, 15 effectively regulate training, and 26 effectively regulate infection control.
- Only 14 states met the criteria for effectively regulating all three assessed categories (sanitation, training, infection control).
- Significant variation exists in the specific rules implemented across different states.
Conclusions:
- Current state tattooing regulations demonstrate considerable variability in their effectiveness.
- Public health agencies should advocate for the adoption and enforcement of robust, evidence-based tattooing regulations to enhance public safety.
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