Sunbeds pose highest cancer risk: WHO

29 Jul 2009, 1:38 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Sunbeds have been branded a major cause of skin cancer, confirming "what many Australians have long suspected", a health expert says.

Sunbeds have been branded a major cause of skin cancer, confirming "what many Australians have long suspected", a health expert says.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has elevated tanning machines into its top cancer risk category.

University of Sydney Professor of Public Health Bruce Armstrong was a member of the IARC working group that reviewed ionising and solar radiation, and rated sunbeds as "carcinogenic to humans".

"We can now say unequivocally that artificial sources of solar radiation - including ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices - can cause both skin and eye melanomas," Prof Armstrong said.

"The IARC has confirmed what many Australians have long suspected, tanning devices emitting ultraviolet (UV) rays are dangerous and can cause cancer."

The IARC, which is tasked by the World Health Organisation to review and report on causes of cancer, last reviewed solar and ultraviolet radiation in 1992.

Prof Armstrong said at that time sunlight was ruled to be a cause of cancer but the IARC determined there was insufficient evidence to show artificial sources of UV rays were also carcinogenic.

"Evidence considered in the latest review - much of which wasn't available in 1992 - found using UV-emitting tanning devices increases a person's risk of developing skin melanomas by about 15 per cent overall," he said.

Alarmingly, Prof Armstrong said research also showed that if a person began using a sunbed before they turned 30 their skin cancer risk increased by 75 per cent.

Most Australian states moved to ban minors from using tanning beds, and increase regulation of the industry, following the well-publicised plight of Melbourne woman Claire Oliver who died of melanoma in 2007 at age 26.

A study released last year found tanning beds kill 43 Australians a year and they were responsible for another 2,600 annual skin cancer diagnoses.

In other findings, the IARC working group also found substantial evidence that arc welding was a cause of eye melanoma.

"Because welders are exposed to other harmful agents such as fumes we couldn't conclusively say UV radiation from arc welding causes melanomas of the eye," Professor Armstrong said.

The working group has urged a full review of the carcinogenic hazards of welding.

All sources of ionising radiation have also been put into the IARC's top cancer risk category.

These include radon gas (the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke), plutonium, radium, phosphorous-32 and radioiodines.

The findings are published in The Lancet Oncology.

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