The risk of people getting contracted with skin cancer due to the usage of sun beds to acquire a tan has increased by more than three times in the last 10 years, a study said.

Led by Dr Harry Moseley of Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, the study said that over 83 percent of the sun beds have an output which is far more than the maximum safety guidelines imposed by the British government and the EU. The study also added that over 30 percent of new unregulated and privately operated sunbeds have been started and the UV radiation emitted by the lamps were twice as much from 10 years ago.

Speaking to The Times, Dr Moseley said, “The risk of developing skin cancer from sunbed use is now on average between two and three times that which it was a decade ago. We found that the number of privately operated sunbeds had increased by 30 per cent in that time, and despite local authorities withdrawing them from sports centres, the number increased overall by 15 per cent."

He added that 10 years ago, the amount of UV radiation emitted by the lamps were comparable to what was experienced in Britain. However latest sunbed lamps emit UV radiation equivalent to sunlight in the Mediterranean. "Although exposure to sunlight is the main cause of skin cancer, sunbeds ten years ago produced UV levels comparable to what you might get in the UK on a summer’s day. Now they are more like the Mediterranean", he said.

However officials from the Sunbed Association counter that though the lamps emit greater UV output, the duration of the session too has been reduced.

Says Kathy Banks, Chief Executive of the Sunbed Association, "Where tubes with greater UV output are used, the sunbed session length is reduced accordingly, which means the same amount of UV dosage is received by the sunbed user. Over the last 10 years, the sunbed industry has actually responded to the advice of the scientific and medical profession by adjusting the output of the tubes to simulate sunshine."

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4