By Madeleine Brindley Health Editor
LEADING health experts have called for coin-operated sun bed salons to be banned as it emerged one company is charging just 30p a minute.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which has been at the vanguard of the campaign against sunbeds, today branded them “machines that promote cancer”.
The calls come as Consol Suncenter is offering a 30p-a-minute sunbed deal this month in its 12 coin-operated tanning salons in South Wales, to be found from Newport to Llanelli, including three in Cardiff and two each in Swansea and Newport.
A maximum of 16 minutes on the beds at the unmanned shops costs less than pounds 5.
When the Western Mail visited the Pontypridd Consol Suncenter salon it found large signs on the window advertising the 30p- aminute deal.
There was also a smaller sign on the front door and inside stating that the beds were not to be used by under-16s.
But there was no one in the shop to enforce this ruling.
Julie Barratt, director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in Wales, said: “People go into the salons and take advantage of these offers.
“They don’t think about the immediate effects or the long-term potential for skin cancer.
“They just see an opportunity to go from being fairly pale to sunburned and take it.
“The complete absence of any control mechanism means it is very dangerous.
“There is nothing to stop under-16s from using these beds and the risk is that children and older adults will use it to excess.
“Sunbeds are the same as cigarette vending machines – they are machines that effectively promote cancer.”
A report published by the International Agency for Research into Cancer last year found that people who start using sunbeds under the age of 35 increase their risk of malignant melanoma – the most deadly form of skin cancer – by 75%.
The British Photodermatology Group recommends that sunbeds are not used at all, but if they are, usage should be limited to no more than two courses a year of 10 sessions each.
And Cancer Research UK’s website on sunbed use states: “Sunbeds give out UV rays just like the sun.
“Exposure to UV rays, whether from the sun or a sunbed, damages the DNA in your skin cells which can cause cancer. In fact, the intensity of some types of UV rays from sunbeds can be up to 10to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun.”
Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the BMA, said: “We believe that there should be a thorough regulation of sunbed operators.
Tighter controls could have a positive impact on skin cancer prevention efforts.
“We have been concerned for some time about rising sunbed use and the effect this may have on levels of skin cancer.”
A spokeswoman for Consol Suncenters said: “During our short 30p- per-minute offer in October, any customer using our studios will do so in the safest possible tanning environment in Wales.
“Consol is the only company in the UK to comply with an EU declaration significantly limiting the output of sunbeds to minimise any risk of burning. Consol limits sunbed session times so that customers cannot take more than 16 minutes before the sunbed automatically shuts down.
“Consol also provides customers with a highly accurate skin tester developed by dermatologists to measure skin type and accurately advise on how long to use a sunbed.
“Anyone determined to use a sunbed in an unsafe way can hire a sunbed at home or move from one studio to the next.
“It is our view that the limited strength and session times of our sunbeds, plus the accuracy of our skin tester and educational information available is the most effective way of reducing inappropriate use of tanning equipment.”
Dr Jodie Moffat, Cancer Research UK’s science information officer, said: “This case highlights the need for legislation banning sunbeds wherever there is no supervision, as has already been done in Scotland.
“Tighter control of the industry will help to ensure young people are protected from putting themselves at increased risk of skin cancer and that adults who choose to use sunbeds are made fully aware of the risks.”
(c) 2008 Western Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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