Th

Susan Nichols

“Nearly 30 million people tan indoors in the

United States annually, including 2.3

million adolescents” (Levine et al.).

30000000

The current regulations pertaining

to indoor tanning are not

effective. The United States

legislature needs to create more

rigid laws restricting this

phenomenon so that the dangers

of indoor tanning are recognized

and this act is diminished

altogether.

The World Health Organization

recognizes the dangers of indoor

tanning (Levine et al.).

SO WHAT???

The United States still has minimal

regulations (Levine et al.).

In the U.S., about 28 million people

use 50,000 indoor tanning salons.

This is a multi-billion dollar industry

(Levine et al.).

THE POPULARITY OF INDOOR TANNING IS STILL

GROWING (Levine et al.).

“Increased risk of

SKIN CANCER,

EYE DAMAGE,

PREMATURE WRINKLING,

AND SKIN RASHES” (Loh)

Do you want to look like this??

“The FDA regulates manufacturers of

indoor tanning equipment.

Requirements are placed on lamp

specifications, posting of warning

labels, and provision of suitable eye

protection” (Levine et al.).

BUT

These are not well enforced.

A study in North Carolina revealed that 95%

of indoor tanners surpassed the suggested

limits (Levine et al.).

“6 states (Wisconsin, Illinois, California, North

Carolina, New Hampshire, and Texas) restrict youth access to tanning beds”

(Levine et al.).

18 states “restrict youth access for individuals younger than 18 years, except

with parental consent” (Levine et al.).

“There are no US federal regulations addressing

indoor tanning by adolescents” (Lazovich

and Forster).

However, there are federal laws regarding

tobacco.

Would you let your child smoke a

cigarette?

Then why do you let him/her indoor tan?

The U.S. government should

follow the tobacco laws as a

model to restrict indoor tanning.

Taxes, licenses, constraints on

advertising, safety labels and

increased education should be

applied (Lazovich and Forster).

People will not stop themselves. It is time for

the government to intervene.

Works Cited (Pictures in order of

appearance)Ciencia, Shubert. The White House (Washington DC). 2008. Washington, DC. flickr. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

diagnosticetrenovation. balance. 2006. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Hegarty, David. No-Smoking Logo. 2006. flickr. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

Iky525. World’s Largest Gavel. 2010. Columbus. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

james thrift. tan studio. 2007. flickr. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

jerkingchickn. Uber Tan Woman. 2010. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Kim, Peter. Slide 52. 2009. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Magliery, Tom. Up arrow. 2006. Mountainview. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Mercola Natural Health. Vitality Tanning Bed. 2010. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

msmudcat2001. Tanning Salon in Tupelo, Mississippi. (Cropped.). 2010. Tupelo. flickr. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

O, Tracy. Money! 2005. Port Angeles. flickr. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

Tom. Built-Rite United States Map Puzzle. 2006. flickr. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.

Vargas, Rodrigo. Papers&Pen. 2009. flickr. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

vintagedame1. pale vs. tan hands. 2007. flickr. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

Works Cited

Lazovich, DeAnn and Jean Forster. “Indoor tanning by adolescents: prevalence, practices and polices.” European Journal of

Cancer. Elsevier Ltd. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.

Levine, Jody A., Michael Sorace, James Spencer, and Daniel M. Siegel. “The indoor UV tanning industry: A review of skin cancer

risk, health benefit claims, and regulation.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Mobsy, Inc. Web. 8 Nov.

2010.

Loh, Andrea Y. “Are artificial tans the new cigarette? How plaintiffs can use the lessons of tobacco litigation in bringing claims

against the indoor tanning industry.” Michigan Law Review 107.2 (2008): 365+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 9 Nov.

2010.