"This data is really strong," said Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief
medical officer of the American Cancer Society. "We have been
very concerned for a long time that tanning beds clearly cause
cancer and we have been recommending against their use." These
findings may renew calls to better regulate indoor tanning,
according to the study authors. "A national ban for those under
18 is a first step, because that is the group at highest risk,"
Linos said, adding that many states are already doing this.
Representatives from the tanning industry balked at the idea of
bans and stiff regulations for a practice they said comes with
health benefits that may offset the risks. "Tanning beds are a
good source of vitamin D, which is associated with many health
benefits," said John Overstreet, executive director of the
Washington D.C.-based Indoor Tanning Association. Such an
argument may not be enough to convince many health experts,
however. In 2009, the World Health Organization placed all forms
of indoor tanning in the same c