SRP2 (07) - Press Release

Embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 30th January 2007

Sunbed Users Skin Cancer Risk Doubles or Triples in Ten Years

Dr Moseley is speaking to members of the Society for Radiological Protection today (Tuesday 30th January 2007) at their meeting on the EU Optical Radiation Safety Directive. He will present results from a survey in two local authority areas in Scotland; Perth and Kinross and the City of Dundee.

The survey tested 133 sunbeds in 50 different premises, ranging from tanning studios, beauty salons, sports centres, hotel leisure complexes, through to hairdressers and video shops. 83% of the sunbeds had Ultra-Violet (UV) light outputs that exceeded the limit laid down in the British and European standard.

The results were compared with a previous survey in Perth and Kinross from 1997. The new data, he asserts, shows that the risk of developing skin cancer from sunbed use is now on average between 2 and 3 times that estimated in 1997.

Since that time, there has been a 30% rise in the number of unregulated privately-operated sunbeds. There are now more sunbeds with new high power lamps. Compared to 1997, the highest power sunbed found in the recent survey emitted more than twice the amount of the more harmful UV(B) radiation.

Dr Moseley found that many sunbeds were unsupervised coin-operated, with no limit on age or number of sessions. He is calling for the regulation of commercial sunbeds, coupled with much better public education in the potential risks of regular sunbed use.

Notes for Editors

1. This release is based on the talk ‘UV and Sunbeds’ to be given at 14:35 today Tuesday 30th January 2007 at the Society for Radiological Protection’s scientific meeting “Electromagnetic and Optical Radiation Safety: The EU Directives and what they mean to you” held at the Society of Chemical Industries, Belgrave Square, London.

2. Dr Harry Moseley is Head of Scientific Services for the Photobiology Unit, and Head of Non-Ionising Radiation in the Department of Medical Physics, at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. He is a member of many national and international scientific committees and the author of a text book on UV, Laser and Microwave Radiation. He has published numerous scientific papers and articles.

3. The work described in his paper was carried out in conjunction with the Environmental Health Departments of Dundee City Council and Perth and Kinross Council. The views expressed, however, are solely those of the author. Further information is available from Harry Moseley who is contactable on email, h.moseley@dundee.ac.uk or by telephone on 0796 1824631

4. The EU Directive on Optical Radiation is due in UK law in 2010. The Directive is however aimed at protecting those who work with UV and other optical radiations. Public health issues raised by Dr Moseley are not covered. More information on the Directive is available on the HSE website  http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/nonionising/optical.htm

5. Accredited journalists are welcome to free registration to attend this meeting. Please contact Tessa Harris, SRP Administrator Tel. +44 (0)1364 644487, fax. +44 (0)1364 644492, email: admin@srp-uk.org if you would like to attend.

6. Further information on the meeting can be found at the Society for Radiological Protection's web site www.srp-uk.org

7. During the meeting itself please contact the Society's media representative, Brian Gornall, who will be available between 9.00am and 5.00pm on mobile 07836 667163

8. Founded in 1963, the Society for Radiological Protection is the Scientific Society in the UK that covers the whole field of radiation protection. It now has nearly 2000 national and international members, who are professionally concerned with safety aspects of the use of ionising and non-ionising radiation in education, central and local government, industry, medicine and research.

9. The Society has the following objectives:-

•  to promote and advance the science of radiological protection and allied fields;
•  to promote, advance and disseminate to the public advantage, knowledge of radiological protection and allied fields;
•  to encourage, support, promote and advance education and learning in radiological protection and allied fields;
•  to promote and encourage high scientific, educational, regulatory and professional standards in radiological protection and allied fields.

10. This press release was written for the Society for Radiological Protection by Brian Gornall and distributed for the SRP by the Institute of Physics Press Office.
 

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