Cancer charity calls for UK-wide sunbed ban
By Julie Grifffiths, 30 November 2009
Cancer Research UK has called on the Westminster Government to follow Scotland's example and ban under-18s from using sun beds.
The intensity of UV rays in sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun (Photographt: SPL)
From Tuesday, Scotland will ban children from using sunbeds and is to ensure adults are fully informed of the risk.
Sarah Woolnough, Cancer Research UK's head of policy, said Westminster should do the same.
‘The time has come for the government to take the dangers of sunbed use seriously and pass legislation,' she said.
Earlier this month the British Medical Journal published major findings from a Cancer Research UK survey which found half of all 15-17 year old girls in Liverpool and Sunderland used a sunbed.
Some 40% of these girls went on a sunbed at least once a week.
Skin cancer rates are rising faster than any other type of cancer and have more than quadrupled in the last 30 years.
Ms Woolnough said sunbeds were now classified in the highest risk category for cancer.
‘The intensity of UV rays in some sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun,' she said.
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