A new study indicates that lying in a tanning bed carries the same cancer risk as smoking cigarettes or breathing asbestos. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously classified sunbeds as being a "probable" cause of cancer.Given the current policy trend of taxing harmful activities to both promote better health and raise revenues, legislators should immediately consider a special tax on tanning beds.
However, the agency is now recommending that tanning machines should be moved to "the highest cancer risk category" and be labeled as "carcinogenic to humans".
It followed a review of research which concluded that the risk of melanoma -- the most deadly form of skin cancer -- was increased by 75 per cent in people who started using sunbeds regularly before the age of 30.
The IARC also says there is evidence of a link between eye cancer and the use of sunbeds.
Once that is done, they can also consider taxes on skimpy swim suits and on the sun.
