Sunbeds
Sunbeds may seem a safe alternative to sunbathing, but they are not. Tanning devices such as sunbeds (solaria), booths and lamps emit a much higher concentration of UV radiation than the sun – in fact, the radiation can be up to five times as strong as the midday summer sun.
In 2009, the World Health Organization classified UV radiation from sunbeds as being carcinogenic, or cancer-causing. Also, the organisation’s cancer division concluded that people who start using sunbeds before they are 30, increase their risk of melanoma by 75%. Overall, the use of sunbeds boosts the risk of developing melanoma by 20%.
A growing number of countries are legislating the use of sunbeds, including a complete ban in Brazil and New South Wales, Australia (2014). The following countries either have laws banning under 18 year olds from sunbed use currently, or will by 1 July 2012.
- Australia (states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland)
- Belgium
- Canada – Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Captial Regional District (CRD) Victoria
- England
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Northern Ireland
- Norway * The age limit is valid from 1 July 2012, while requirements for trained staff is valid from 1 January 2014
- Scotland
- Spain
- USA – California, Howard County (Maryland)
- Wales
New Zealand currently has a voluntary standard for sunbed operators, which state that people aged younger than 18 and/or with fair skin should not be allowed to use sunbeds. There is a movement to have these voluntary regulations made mandatory here. At the 2011 Melanoma Summit health professionals called for a ban on sunbed access for under-18s, as well as on unsupervised sunbed operations.