DeLauro Calls on Country to Follow Connecticut’s Lead, Institute Nationwide Ban on Tanning Bed Use by Minors

NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today marked UV Safety Month by calling on the country to follow Connecticut’s lead and institute a nationwide ban on tanning bed use by minors. She was joined in her call by the President of the Connecticut State Medical Society, Dr. Robert Russo, and Glastonbury dermatologist Dr. Donna Aiudi. Connecticut has prohibited the use of tanning beds by anyone under 17 years old since October 1, 2013.

“Despite all the evidence of its harmful effects, the tanning industry continues to target teen and adolescent girls with aggressive marketing. Salons and the tanning industry are still not being straight with their clients. We need to treat tanning devices for what they are: carcinogen delivery systems, just like tobacco.

“Progress is possible when people are aware of the risks. I have long been pushing the Food and Drug Administration to take action. And we are making progress. About a year ago, the FDA issued an order requiring tanning devices to get clearance before they can be marketed to the public. The same order required a warning on each device, stating explicitly that it should not be used by those under the age of 18. These are positive moves that will save lives.”

A study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that the risk of melanoma, the most common form of cancer for young adults, is 41 percent higher for those who have used a tanning bed. The risk is doubled for those who use tanning beds more than 10 times.

Over the past three decades, cases of melanoma have gone up 60 percent. It kills more than 9,000 Americans each year. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the risk of melanoma is 75 percent higher for those who have been exposed to ultraviolet light from tanning devices.


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