Two months after a team of researchers from Sweden found an increased risk of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, for those with tattoos, a new study by the US Food and Drug Administration discovered that sealed bottles of tattoo and permanent makeup ink contain millions of potentially dangerous bacteria.

The researchers pointed out that since the ink is injected deep into the skin, tattoos contaminated with harmful substances including bacteria can cause infections and injuries. The substance can also travel from the injection site, the blood and lymphatic systems to other parts of the body.

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Seong-Jae (Peter) Kim, a microbiologist staff fellow at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Arkansas, said that with what they discovered out of their study, they wanted to stress that continuously monitoring these products is paramount to make sure the microbial safety of tattoo inks. Kim is one of the authors of the study found the alarming discovery. The research was published by the American Society for Microbiology.

Linda Katz, another coauthor of the study and director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said that the ink contaminated with bacteria that reaches the blood and lymphatic systems, it can cause life-threatening complications such as endocarditis, deadly inflammation of the heart lining, or septic shock, the most severe stage of sepsis. Katz also noted that the body’s extreme response to an infection can end up in multi-organ failure.

Notably, as per a report by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the sepsis can lead to tissue damage and even rapid death if not treated quickly.

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Talking about permanent makeup, Katz added that the makeup also carries the risk if contaminated ink is used. The product when applied around the eye area can pose a higher risk to consumers because microbes could enter the eye and may cause an infection.

However, according to business experts, the tattoo industry is working with regulatory bodies to comply with safety standards. Selina Medina, a tattoo artist, said that the industry is investing more in the area. “Manufacturers are investing in advanced sterilization technologies and formulation advancements to improve their production environments to reduce the risk of contamination,” CNN quoted Medina, also a director of research at the Alliance of Professional Tattooists.