THE HEAD of the Irish cancer control programme, Prof Tom Keane, has backed calls for a total ban on sunbeds in the State.
Speaking at the Livestrong global cancer summit in Dublin yesterday, Prof Keane said there was “absolutely compelling data” showing sun exposure, whether through natural or artificial sources, was a major cause of skin cancer here.
Sunbed operators say, however, that the beds are being scapegoated, and they have called for the introduction of EU safety limits on permissible ultraviolet light levels in sunbeds.
Prof Keane has backed the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, who on Monday said she would like to ban sunbeds outright.
The department is preparing legislation to ban sunbed use by people under 18.
Operators, however, have argued sunbed use is safe when the tanning facilities are provided by responsible operators.
David Tracey, owner of two Tanzone salons in Dublin, said other probable factors in increases in skin cancer were the 40 per cent increase in sun holidays in the past decade and the population increase.
“The root cause is not sunbeds but sunburn,” he said.
At his Dublin city centre salon he showed warning signs about possible health risks as well as notices stipulating no one under 18 use the facilities.
“We assess all new customers for their skin type and we do not allow any customer exceed three sessions per week or 60 per year.”
He could “not understand” why the Government had not introduced the new “Euronorm” regulation on the maximum levels of ultraviolet light permitted in sunbeds.
He has installed a tanning unit which complies with the new limit, in place since July 200. This halves the previous maximum and has just come into force in Britain and a number of other EU States. However it has not been introduced into Irish regulations.
“The Government should enforce this regulation, not ban an industry that is safe when run responsibly – an industry that provides about 1,000 jobs.”
The Department of Enterprise was unable to comment last night.
Separately, an undercover survey published yesterday by the Irish Cancer Society, indicates sunbed customers are not generally advised about cancer risks, while staff in some outlets have little training. The survey was carried out by a young woman working with the society, described as “very fair skinned”, in the week of the 10th August.
Livestrong conference reports: page 7
