Sunbeds cause cancer in humans

[Gromit]

Sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking, the World Health Organisation has said.

The group placed use of the beds into the highest risk level for cancer, moving their rating from "probably carcinogenic" to "carcinogenic to humans" - putting them alongside cigarettes, alcohol and asbestos.

The shift in the WHO's stance was prompted by the results of a review of recent studies of ultraviolet radiation (UV) tanning by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon.

Two years ago experts warned the risk of developing skin cancer from using sunbeds has trebled in just a decade because the demand for an instant tan - 'binge tanning' - has led to the marketing of increasingly powerful sunbeds.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5 928347/Sunbeds-are-as-dangerous-as-smoking.htm l

An acceptable risk or unnecessary danger?

[LazyGun]

Cancer Research UK has been banging on about the risks sunbeds pose for quite some while now, citing some really quite worrying statistics - 100 deaths from melanoma per year in the UK for example.
For me, the very probable risk far outweighs the transient, cosmetic benefit of a sunbed, and I would never use one.

Although, looking at the weather this morning, I could, for once, be tempted. UK summer and its raining for Noah

[R1Geezer]

what are you getting at here Gromit? Are you saying the nannay state should make them illegal or somthing?

It's a free (ish) country if someone wants to grill themselves it's up to them. It is an uncessary danger but hey the world is full of those!

[Haggisdj]

I'm playing Devil's Advocate here Geezer... who has to pick the NHS bill when these tan freaks develop skin cancer? It's usually the likes of you and I.

[Gromit]

R1Geezer

I'm not getting at anything. It is an either/or question.

Should sunbeds be heavily taxed to pay for future cancer treatments, if they have the same equivalent dangers as smoking?

[R1Geezer]

Oh I see, yes Gromit.

Haggis, dangerous to open the pandoras box of self inflicted injuries being treated on the NHS. Just about anything can be self inflicted so it's a dangerous game. Tax the stuff that costs the NHS by all means. The trouble is using that logic you end up taxing just about anything and alot of stuff that causes costs to the NHS can't easiy be taxed, sports injuries for example.

[coccinelle]

They will no doubt discover that smothering your skin with fake tan throughout the year will have the same effect. One day, it will come fashionable again to have an english rose complexion and pale skin.

[youngmafbog]

No doubt Brown and his pupet Chancellor are rubbing their hands in glee. Just watch for a bucket load of tax in the next budget.

The touble with stats are there are sts, stas damn lies and stats. You can manipulate them to produce whatever you want to bang on about.

But in this case, ok maybe it does, but what about the white red head abroad we all see who is a lobster by the end of the day. Perhaps a slow tanning on a sunbed may have prepared the sin for the onslaught therfore avoiding the burning which is dangerous. So perhaps we tax any beach holiday ? (Good idea mate, I'll add it in - Brown)

I have used them for exactly the purpose described above although I use a low powered one and not very often. Perhaps they should be more regulated though and unmanned ones certainly banned.

As for the 'English Rose' complexion , I doubt you will see that again. We are now such a melting pot of races that there are many with a georgeous colour skin that is not white and can never be. And being white and sickly is not a pleasant sight is it?

[1ARMEDBANDIT]

I am glad to see R1Geezer picked up on the sports self inflicted side of it and I fully agree, I would like to see the full cost of these sporting injuries and the pressure they put on the NHS and they are not at any point put under pressure or made to feel guilty.
Also the many drug users who fill the doctors surguries and chemists looking for costly help for their habit.

Leave the sunbed users alone, why can`t we have just a little bit of pleasure whether it be good or bad for us, that`s our decision, without being made to feel guilty about it.

If the government (or WHEN) the government taxes them I hope they tax every other danger.

[leggionaire]

the government is using sunbeds to cull the chavs.its all a conspiracy

[redman41]

Having been cured of Skin Cancer (Melanoma) some years ago due to too much Sun exposure when in Merchant Navy, I would not advise anyone to use Sunbeds un-supervised. Melanoma can kill, as it spreads to other parts of your body. I was lucky because it was diagnosed early. There is too much vanity these days and although it is cool to look good, many do not realise the dangers involved with Sunbeds thinking it will not happen to them. Beware !!!!