Sunbed Cancer Risk Greater In England Due To Industry Dismissal Of Health Risks
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessed sunbeds in 2009 and concluded that there is no doubt using a sunbed or sunlamp will raise the risk of skin cancers and warned that their use is definitively "carcinogenic to humans".
Indeed, Cancer Research UK warn that sunbeds can differ dramatically in intensity, with many being up to 15 times stronger than the midday sun.
As can be expected of course, the Sunbed Association in the UK said there was no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer. In complete denial of the scientific research.
The IARC is an expert committee that makes recommendations to the World Health Organization.
It made its decision following a review of research which concluded that the risk of melanoma - the most deadly form of skin cancer - was increased by 75% in people who started using sunbeds regularly before the age of 30.
In addition, several studies have linked sunbed use to a raised risk of melanoma of the eye.
But further research by the Univeristy of Dundee and published today (17th January) in the British Journal of Dermatology; has resulted in a shocking finding – the majority (9 out of 10) sunbeds in this country fail to meet both British and European safety standards. The report findings are based on a study done by Cancer Research UK.
The conclusion to the research is unequivocal according to the British Journal of Dermatology. It says in the abstract to the research report on its website that:
"Nine out of 10 sunbeds surveyed throughout England emitted levels of UV radiation that exceed the maximum levels contained within the European standard. Moreover, the skin cancer risk for comparable times of exposure was up to six times higher than that for Mediterranean sunlight. This situation is unacceptable and stricter control measures must be put in place."
The Cancer Research UK study examined 402 sunbeds across England between 2010 and 2011.
Their study found that the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by 400 sunbeds were on average twice the recommended limits. As a result the researchers are warning that skin cancer rates, already increasing in the under 34 year olds; will inevitably rise even further if stricter controls are not put in place.
Indeed many within the safety industry and the medical profession believe there is a case for the banning of sunbed use in public salons altogether.
The research also looked at the skin cancer risk from sunbeds compared to that of lieing in the Mediterranean sun, and found that cancer risk from sunbeds was more than twice that of spending the same length of time in the Mediterranean midday sun!
Professor Harry Moseley, consultant medical physicist at University of Dundee and lead author, said:
"The development of high-power sunlamps, along with clear failures of the sunbed industry to regulate themselves effectively, is putting young people at an even greater risk of skin cancer than we previously thought.
We hope that these findings will make people think twice before using sunbeds as you can't be sure how much radiation you're exposing yourself to when you try to top-up a tan. People need to be encouraged to take better care of their skin, otherwise the cases of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, will continue to increase in England."
Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "It's worrying to see that so many sunbeds in England are not meeting the safety standards. This strengthens our advice that using a sunbed just isn't worth it.
"Research has already shown that using sunbeds for the first time before the age of 35 increases the risk of malignant melanoma by 87 per cent. They're not going to do you any good - the best case scenario is that they'll age and damage your skin; the worst case scenario is a cancer diagnosis and potentially death."
The British and European standard for sunbeds was introduced in 2003 and sets out a maximum level of UV radiation to be emitted by sunbeds used for cosmetic purposes. The findings suggest that there is much more work for local authorities to do to ensure that standards are being met by tanning businesses.
Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists explains:
"Product safety standards are there to protect the public and the government needs to step up its regulation of the industry.
"England is sadly trailing behind the rest of the UK in this matter. We need proper legislation, covering issues like safety of equipment and health warnings for clients and enforceable through inspections of premises."
But the Sunbed Association, which represents companies that manufacture and operate tanning stations, dismisses the study claiming it is out of date.
In a bland and dismissive statement it says that:
"Sun bed users should check with their salon that the sun bed is 0.3 compliant - that means its UV emission levels are guaranteed to be no higher than the midday Mediterranean sun."
This ignores of course the fact that everyone accepts that lieing in the midday sun in countries like those in the med and others such as Australia and African countries; increases dramatically the chances of developing skin cancer!
Meanwhile, the British Association Of Dermatologists says that it is important for people to understand the risks that sunbeds pose and
that current regulations should go further, with powers of inspection of sunbed parlours, to ensure compliance.
One option, they argue, is for local authority regulated licensing schemes, with licences issued only to salons that comply with set criteria and that pass regular
inspections. Standards that would have to be met in order to retain a licence include:
- The restriction of sunbeds for under-18s
- Full-time supervision of sunbed facilities by trained staff
- Compulsory display and provision of customer information regarding the health risks
- A limit on the number of sessions available for adults to prevent over-exposure
- No coin-operated machines
- Evidence that the equipment has been properly maintained and complies with British safety standards.
They also argue for licences being granted to local authority health facilities, such as gyms and health centres, and for licences to be revoked at any stage, subject to regular inspections. Premises not in possession of a licence would not be permitted to offer sunbeds.
However, with the cuts in local government funding, public health is taking a battering as trading standards officials end up on the dole queues; and workloads massively increase.
As a result, there is minimal if any inspections of sunbed salons being undertaken as they are seen as being a low priority.
Whilst the current act regulating sunbeds does provide for a ban on under 18 yrs old use of a sunbed in a salon or gym club, it does little else!
You can download the Sunbeds (Regulations) Act 2012 here
Download guidance from the Dept of Health on the above Act from the E-library database using keyword 'sunbeds'.
Source: British Association Of Dermatologists / Cancer Research UK / University of Dundee / British Journal Of Dermatology / BBC News website
