April 13, 2005 – Deeming that frequent visits to the tanning salon represent a real risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on governments to regulate these establishments more severely. WHO even judges that exposure to sunlamps should be banned for people under 181.
Each year, 132,000 cases of melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – and more than two million other cases of skin tumors are diagnosed worldwide, the WHO said. Most of these cancers would be attributable to too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. According to the WHO, natural or artificial exposure to these rays is “a known risk factor” for skin cancer, especially since “the UV rays emitted by tanning beds, which penetrate deeper into the skin. skin, play a role in the appearance of cancers ”.
Seeing that the craze for tanning salons continues to grow, especially among young women, the WHO believes that tanning beds should be banned for children and adolescents. According to its leaders, it is recognized that during childhood, exposure to UV rays and the number of burns caused by these rays increase the risk of developing melanoma in adulthood.
In addition, the proliferation of tanning salons has led the owners of such businesses to hire unskilled people, which the WHO condemns. According to her, controlling the intensity of the rays emitted by the devices requires a minimum of training or supervision to ensure public safety.
The body recognizes that exposure to sunlight, associated with normal food intake, helps improve vitamin D synthesis. But it advises populations in northern regions, more likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency. , to prefer power to solar lamps to fill their possible lack.
In Canada, the government recently updated its tanning equipment regulations2. This now requires manufacturers to recommend an initial exposure time, as well as an annual exposure time, not to be exceeded. However, the new regulation only applies to equipment sold after its entry into force on February 23, 2005. Like the majority of countries that regulate this practice, Canada does not prohibit its use. tanning beds for minors. Only France and California do it.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
According to The Globe and Mail and BBC News.
1. To access the WHO press release: www.who.int [site consulté le 12 avril 2005].
2. To access the Health Canada press release: www.hc-sc.gc.ca [site consulté le 12 avril 2005].
