This is not a new issue. Already in 2006, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products provided an Opinion on the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunbeds. There, it was stated that using UVR tanning devices was likely to increase the risk of malignant melanoma of the skin and possibly ocular melanoma. It was recommended for young people under 18 years to avoid sunbeds.
A few years later, in 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the use of UV-emitting tanning devices as carcinogenic to humans.
In light of new evidence, the European Commission asked the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) to update the previous Opinion on this topic.
Navigation
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Legislation
- 3. Use of sunbeds
- 4. Health effects
- 5. Cancers linked to the use of sunbeds
- 6. Studies on the use of sunbeds
- 7. Conclusions
5. Cancers linked to the use of sunbeds
5.1 What kind of cancers have sunbeds been linked to?
There is strong evidence that using sunbeds can lead to skin melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and, to a lesser extent, basal cell carcinoma, especially when the first exposure is at a younger age. There is moderate evidence that sunbed exposure may also cause ocular melanoma (cancer of the eye).
There is consistent evidence from case-control studies, cohort studies and meta-analyses that sunbed users have an increased risk of developing skin melanoma, and that the risk increases according to the number and frequency of sessions. The risk of developing melanoma is also higher for people who were exposed to sunbeds when they were younger than 30 years old.
In addition, studies suggest that sunbed use adds a specific risk of melanoma independently from individual susceptibility and behaviour in the sun. That means that people with darker skin tones, who tan easily and do not burn in the sun, can also be at risk of developing melanoma from using sunbeds.
5.2 What evidence suggests that using sunbed leads to various types of cancer?
Case-control studies, cohort studies and meta-analyses consistently give evidence of a statistically significantly increased risk from skin melanoma associated with sunbed use, with a dose-response proportional to the number of sessions and frequency of use. The three most recent cohort studies showed an increase in melanoma risk associated with sunbed exposure at a younger age. In addition, since all analyses were adjusted for host factors and for sun exposure, they also suggest that sunbed use adds a specific risk of melanoma independently from individual susceptibility and their behaviour in the sun.
Although based on a smaller number of studies than for melanoma, there is strong evidence from individual studies and meta-analyses indicating that sunbed use is also a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma, especially when exposure takes place at a younger age and to a lesser extent for basal cell carcinoma.
There was no evidence from recent studies of an increase in incidence of internal cancers associated with sunbed use. The current evidence does not suggest a decreased risk in all-cause mortality associated with sunbed use; the only available cohort study suggests an increased risk of death from all cancers taken together. There is however an increased risk of ocular melanoma associated with sunbed use, especially if exposure starts at an early age.