August 5, 2005

 

NEW RESEARCH ON RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF “ARTIFICIAL ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT” PUTS WESTCHESTER’S TANNING SALONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

---Legislators consider need for increased regulation of county’s tanning salons; industry experts and medical professionals will present both sides of the debate at joint meeting of Committees On Legislation And Health ---

What: Martin Rogowsky, Chair of Committee on Legislation and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Chair of the Committee on Health are conducting a Joint Meeting of their committees to hear evidence regarding increased cancer risks from using tanning salons.

Who: Dr. Amy Newberger, Dermatoligist, Westchester Academy of Medicine

Lillian Jones, American Cancer Society
Robert Klem, Proprietor, Solar Express
Christian Sauska, Director, Indoor Tanning Association

When: Monday, August 8 at 1 PM

Where: Board of Legislators’ Committee Conference Room, Michaelian Office Building, 8th Floor

Why: Many physicians and scientists now warn that the risks associated with sun-tanning are greater when tanning by artificial ultraviolet light. According to a medical study by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School, people who had used tanning devices, such as sunlamps and tanning beds, were 2.5 times more likely to devlop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than people who did not use tanning devices. Research suggests that tanning devices also may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.

Legislators will consider legislation that establishes restrictions, especially with regard to use of tanning salons by minors, and safety standards, such as regulating maximum temperature, limiting consumers to using a tanning salon only once every 30 days and posting visible warning signs for consumers.