Keeping Teens Out of Tanning Beds Saves Lives
Statement from Blair Horner, Vice President of Advocacy, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ, regarding Senate passage of bill to ban indoor tanning
“Indoor tanning is unnecessary. In their quest for a summer glow, teenagers are needlessly exposing themselves to a carcinogen that may cost them their lives.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) puts tanning beds in the highest cancer risk category - group 1 - 'carcinogenic to humans.’ That’s the same class as arsenic, asbestos, benzene, dioxin, mustard gas, tobacco smoke and vinyl chloride. The machines can emit ultraviolet radiation at levels 10 to 15 times higher than the midday summer sun. According to the IARC, use of tanning beds before the age of 30 increases the risk of melanoma by 75 percent.
The data are clear; this law will save lives and protect our children.
The American Cancer Society is grateful to Sens. Weinberg and Singer for their dedication and commitment to this issue. We fully expect the Assembly to move on this measure to protect New Jersey kids from this know cancer-causer. “
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After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.