The Melanoma Network of Canada Supports Oakville’s Ground Breaking Tanning By-law

OAKVILLE, ON, Aug. 14, 2012 /CNW/ – The Melanoma Network of Canada is
thrilled that the municipality of Oakville, Ontario has become the
first municipality in Ontario to ban minors from using commercial
tanning beds.  At a Town Council meeting held on August 13(th), Councillors recommended approval of the by-law.

The by-law was intially proposed by Annette Cyr, founder and Chair of
the Melanoma Network of Canada. The issue was brought to Oakville Town
Council by Councillors Ralph Robinson and Pam Damoff in May. The new
by-law aims to promote and protect the health of children and youth
from a recognized carcinogen by restricting minors under the age of 18
years from the use of ultraviolet (UV) emitting devices at indoor
tanning facilities.

“The Melanoma Network is very supportive of this by-law, as we feel
strongly that all governments have a duty to take action to protect
youth from harmful UV rays,” said Cyr. “The public needs to be aware of
the risks posed for everyone, but most particularly our youth.  I
commend Oakville for taking a strong stand and call on the province of
Ontario to follow Oakville’s lead and enact similar legislation to
protect the public and our youth.”

Part of the mandate of the Melanoma Network of Canada is to raise
awareness about the damage that UV raditation can wreak on the human
body. Cyr has been working with governments at all levels to enact
regulations to protect people from harmful exposure to UV radiation.

Research by the World Health Organization, among many other health
bodies, indicates that the use of tanning beds poses significant health
risks, particularly in children and youth, increasing the tisk of
developing melanoma or other skin cancers by up to 75 percent. Health
Canada warns that indoor tanning beds generate about five times the
amount of UVA radiation produced by the sun and are not a safe means of
producing vitamin D, despite myths to the contrary.

To date, Texas, California, Belgium, Germany, France, New South Wales,
Australia, Spain, Portugal, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Victoria,
B.C. have all passed laws banning minors from using tanning equipment.
In May, at the urging of Ward 5 City Councillor Bonnie Crombie, the
City of Mississauga passed a motion to create a similar by-law and the
Region of Peel followed suit.

SOURCE Melanoma Network of Canada