TORONTO - Ontario will consider banning the use of tanning beds by minors after a call by the Canadian Cancer Society, Health Minister David Caplan said Tuesday.
The Cancer Society renewed its call for the ban Tuesday after releasing a study indicating many artificial tanning sites are not following Health Canada's voluntary safety guidelines, including those related to youths.
In a study of 79 tanning salons in the Toronto area, the group found that six in 10 failed to ask the age of minors.
"They have an important message that children and youth should exercise extreme caution in using devices like this," Caplan said.
"This is something that I will take a look at. I'm going to work with my colleagues in the Ministry of Health Promotion as well, and we'll see what can be done."
Liberal backbencher Khalil Ramal had put forth a private member's bill on the issue in June, seeking to keep youths under the age of 19 from using tanning beds.
The Cancer Society said its study "clearly shows" the need for provincial legislation to protect youths, since it found that tanning salons are allowing them to use equipment despite voluntary guidelines recommending against it.
Melanoma skin cancer is the second most common cancer among people aged 15 to 34.
"Ultraviolet radiation emitted from artificial tanning equipment is a known carcinogen causing skin cancer," said Cancer Society spokeswoman Irene Gallagher.
"The exposure to UVR is cumulative, so those exposed at a young age are at greater risk of developing skin cancer, both now and later in life."
Gallagher said the Cancer Society supports the private member's bill, but has called for additional measures around marketing restrictions, mandatory training for staff that operate the tanning beds, and a registry of the locations of Ontario salons.
"It's great that Mr. Caplan has indicated that he is wanting to speak to us about this issue, and we look forward to any help we can provide in moving forward with legislation," she said.
Among its key findings, the study showed that 96 per cent of personnel operating tanning facilities did not communicate with the researchers about the Health Canada guidelines, and 60 per cent did not ask the age of researchers who were minors.
New Democrat Michael Prue said he "absolutely" supports the Cancer Society's initiative.
"As a person who has had basal cell carcinoma and has had it zapped it from my chest from too much sun, I appreciate very much that those tanning beds should not be there for people under 18," Prue said.
The NDP is joining in the call for a ban on tanning salons targeting young people, and is urging the provincial government to "move swiftly to stop the spread of skin cancer amongst Ontario youth."
