Tanning beds classified as carcinogenic: Study

The research was carried out by experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon (a branch of the World Health Organization).

International experts carried out an analysis of about 20 studies, wherein they found that people (below 30) who used tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation exhibited high cancer probability of approximately 75 percent.

Though, from years scientists have been claiming that tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation can cause cancer in humans but it’s only now that the study was conducted to test this hypothesis.

In fact, tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation had been given the name of "probable carcinogens" over the years.

Before this study, it was thought that only a particular type of radiation is lethal for living beings. Earlier, only ultraviolet radiation was known to be carcinogenic.

When mice were exposed to different types of ultraviolet radiation drastic mutations were seen in them. This confirmed that ultraviolet radiation were absolutely capable of causing cancer in living beings.

However, experts found in the current study that almost all types of ultraviolet radiation could cause cancer. Now it is a well established fact that all kinds of radiation are carcinogenic, experts said, therefore it is important to stay away from them.

Consequently, in addition to tobacco, the hepatitis B virus and chimney sweeping, experts have added tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation in the list of hazardous carcinogenic elements.

The study findings appeared in an online medical journal Lancet Oncology.

Implications of the study
An issue of concern for the experts is that a large number of people under 30 are excessively using tanning beds without even a little understanding that these tanning beds can straight away lead them to their death beds.

Experts noted that over a period of few years as the use of tanning beds increased among the people, the incidences of benign skin cancer also increased.

Vincent Cogliano, a cancer researcher,said, "People need to be reminded of the risks of sun-beds...We hope the prevailing culture will change so teens don't think they need to use sun-beds to get a tan."

Cogliano said that experts have substantial evidence that tanning beds cause cancer, yet this is also true that tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation may not be equally ruinous as other carcinogens such as tobacco or arsenic are.

Tanning beds emit ultraviolet radiation, which can result in skin and eye cancer, he added.

The American Cancer Society recommends that people can go in for safe options instead of using tanning beds.

Bronzing or self-tanning creams are safe and easy to use and people can try these options rather than using the probable carcinogenic.