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Stockholm, 2005-03-01
"There is no evidence to suggest that any type of sun bed
is less harmful than natural sun exposure. Since the exposure
to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in general should be restricted,
the use of sun beds for tanning or other non-medical purposes
is not advisable," health authorities from Sweden, Norway,
Denmark, Iceland and Finland concluded in a report published
on Monday.
While European national surveys show that on average
between nine and 16 percent of the continent's inhabitants
use tanning appliances, the numbers are far higher in the sun-starved
Nordic region, especially among young people.
About 50 percent
of all Icelanders between the ages of 16 and 24 use sun beds,
and more than half of all Danes between 18 and 39 have used
a tanning device in the past two years, according to the study.
'Young persons below 18 years and UV sensitive people'
Large
numbers of young Norwegians, Swedes and Finns also try to make
up for the somber winter months with a bit of artificial sunlight.
The young age of most Nordic sun bed users is especially worrying
since children and adolescents are believed to be the most
susceptible to the harmful effects of UV radiation.
"Among
the biological effects of exposure to UV radiation are acute
effects such as production of erythema, thickening of the epidermis
(outer layer of the skin), DNA damage, suppression of several
immune responses, damage to the cornea and conjunctiva of the
eye, darkening of the skin and vitamin D synthesis. Long term
effects are: increased risk of skin cancer, skin ageing and
cataract," the report stated.
Although the specific link between
sun beds and cancer has yet to be proved conclusively, early
US research quoted in the study indicates that young people
who use sun beds are 20 percent more likely to develop certain
types of skin cancer tumors than people who have never used
one.
"Young persons below 18 years and UV sensitive people...
are strongly advised not to use sun beds," the study said.
People who want to continue using sun beds should make sure
they keep their annual UV dose low to minimise skin damage
and other health hazards, the Nordic health authorities said,
calling for tanning salon UV levels to be harmonised at as
low a level as possible.
© Independent
Online 2004
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