Nordic nations demand tighter limits on sun beds

Mar 1 2005

Nordic nations are demanding the European Union impose tighter limits on sun beds, and are warning their sun-starved citizens they are at risk of contracting skin cancer from them.

Public health advice statements from the countries' radiation protection and health authorities warn people younger than 18 years against using them and discourage their use for non-medical purposes.

Skin cancer is on the increase in the Nordic countries: The main risk for the majority of the population is the sun, but artificial tanning from sun beds adds significantly to that risk.

Solariums should not issue more ultraviolet radiation than natural sunlight at it’s strongest, and the European Commission needs to issue guidelines to that effect.

Northern Europeans are used to weak solar UV levels in their countries.

Existing EU directive controls UV exposure from sun beds, but the high radiation level is too high.

California lawmakers last year voted to ban teenagers from tanning booths.

Several reliable studies suggest that artificial sunlight increases the risk of cancer.