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United Kingdom bans use of tanning beds for minors
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The House of Lords recently passed a bill prohibiting minors from using tanning facilities after research showed that many teens were using them regularly.
Cancer Research UK began a campaign that discouraged allowing minors to tan in tanning beds after research revealed that more than a quarter million minors between the ages of 11 and 17 years were using tanning facilities unsupervised on a regular basis. The researchers noted that tanning increases the chances of malignant melanoma in minors by 75%.
The researchers used random personal interviews and surveys based on census information to determine how many children were tanning.
Cancer Research UK officials said in a prepared statement that they plan to work with the government to ensure all salons are properly staffed and all adults are given appropriate information warning them of potential dangers to their long-term health. The bill will officially be enforced in one year.
Thomson C. BMJ. 2010; doi:10.1136/bmj.c877