| Releases & Statements
Citing the multiple known dangers
associated with tanning beds, including an increased risk of skin
cancer, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum introduced legislation today
in the City Council that would limit children’s access to
tanning devices. Her bill would restrict children under 14 from
using tanning beds. Minors under the age of 18 would need parental
consent.
“It is unquestionable that ultraviolet
rays pose a health risk. Studies have found that people using
tanning beds increase their risk of skin cancer, including melanoma.
Medical surveys have shown that a third of teenage girls and over
ten percent of teenage boys have used tanning beds at least once.
I introduced this bill because the City should be doing its part
to protect our young people,” Gotbaum said.
Health experts on the national level
have warned against the use of tanning beds regardless of age.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) all discourage the use of tanning beds, tanning booths,
and sunlamps.
A 2002 Dartmouth College Study found
that people using tanning beds even once in their lives were between
1.5 and 2.5 times more likely to develop certain types of skin
cancer. Furthermore, a 2003 Journal of the National Cancer Institute
found that women between 30 and 50 who used tanning devices once
a month increased their melanoma risk by 55% and that women between
20 and 29 who used tanning devices once a month increased their
risk by 150%. There are currently no available treatments that
reverse the effects of ultraviolet rays.
"Skin cancer is the most common
form of cancer in the US. People who use tanning beds are 2 ½
times more likely to develop skin cancer and people 35 and younger
who used tanning beds regularly are 8 times more likely to develop
melanoma," says Peter Slocum, VP Advocacy, American Cancer
Society. "We always recommend people take precautions like
putting on a hat and using sunscreen when they know they'll be
exposed to the sun's UV radiation and we ask for the state to
give parents the tools to protect their children and allow consumers
to make informed decisions on tanning. There's no such thing as
a healthy tan."
The parental consent component of
Gotbaum’s bill requires parents to give consent in the presence
of an owner or employee of the tanning facility and state the
period of time, not exceeding one year, for which the individual
can use the facility. The bill would also require the owner of
the tanning facility to keep any consent written by a parent or
legal guardian for the entire duration specified in the statement
of consent.
Similar legislation has been introduced
in several other municipalities and states across the country.
Locally, Nassau County has enacted such legislation, and a similar
bill has passed in the Suffolk County legislature.
“Adolescents and young adults
face higher risks of skin cancer than adults. That’s why
my legislation, in combination with a public education campaign,
is so important. The longer we can keep children away from the
harmful effects of tanning beds, the better,” Gotbaum said.
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