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Sunbeds are Indeed a Cancer Risk, Say Experts

by Gopalan on Jul 29 2009 1:54 PM

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared that the use of a sunbed or sunlamp is definitively carcinogenic to humans.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared that the use of a sunbed or sunlamp is definitively "carcinogenic to humans."

Earlier the agency’s assement used to be sunbeds were "probably carcinogenic.”

The risk has now been upgraded, it was revealed in the journal Lancet Oncology.

The recommendation follows a review of research which found 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.

The revised assessment thus puts sunbed use on a par with smoking or exposure to asbestos. The IARC is an expert committee that makes recommendations to the World Health Organization.

However, the Sunbed Association in the UK said there was no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer.

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The charity Cancer Research UK warned earlier this year that heavy use of sunbeds was largely responsible for the number of Britons being diagnosed with melanoma topping 10,000 a year for the first time.

In the last 30 years, rates of the cancer have more than quadrupled, from 3.4 cases per 100,000 people in 1977 to 14.7 per 100,000 in 2006.

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Proposals to ban people under the age of 18 from using sunbeds are under consideration by the government in England.

A similar ban has already been approved in Scotland.

The Sunbed Association (TSA) supports a ban on under-16s, but argues there is no scientific evidence for a ban on young people aged 17 or 18.

Jessica Harris, Cancer Research UK's health information officer said: "The link between sunbeds and skin cancer has been convincingly shown in a number of scientific studies now and so we are very pleased that IARC have upgraded sunbeds to the highest risk category.

"This backs up Cancer Research UK's advice to avoid sunbeds completely for cosmetic purposes. They have no health benefits and we know that they increase the risk of cancer."

Ms Harris called for ministers to implement a ban on under-18s using sunbeds immediately, and to close salons that are not supervised by trained staff.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Sunbeds can be dangerous - we must ensure that people who use them do so safely. If necessary we will look at new laws to protect young people.



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