| Can tanning
cause cancer?
Tanning does not cause skin cancer.
What are the studies on cancer and tanning?
Studies suggest that some skin cancers—squamous
cell, basal cell—can be caused by prolonged, abusive overexposure
to ultraviolet light. There is, however, no evidence which proves
that melanoma is caused by ultraviolet exposure. Some claim this,
but other investigations have strongly suggested that there is a
meaningful connection between malignant melanoma, hereditary predisposition,
and moles.
Is tanning indoors is the same as tanning outdoors?
The key difference between indoor and outdoor sun exposure
is that indoor tanning takes place in a highly controlled environment—the
lamp’s light spectrum produces a carefully balanced amount
of ultraviolet light. In a tanning unit, the amount and characteristics
of the energy you receive are consistent. Unlike outdoor sun, you
always know how much ultraviolet light you receive. The tanning
process and the energy produced from indoor and outdoor tanning
are the same, but the light spectra are different. In most U.S.-made
equipment, indoor tanning relies on lamps that emulate a light spectrum
similar to that of the sun.
What are the benefits to tanning indoors?
Other benefits that differentiate indoor tanning from outdoor exposure
are convenience, privacy, relaxation, and control of environment
(I.e., elimination of the dust, chemicals, and other particles present
in the outdoor air). Indoor tanning eliminates variables such as
season, time of day, reflection, and atmospheric conditions. Another
difference between indoor and outdoor tanning is that indoor exposure
programs can be tailored to individual needs with regard to skin
type and previous exposure experience.
Should I fear the sun?
Regular, moderate tanning is nature's best sunscreen. IT'S
ALL NATURAL! Contrary to what you may have heard, In ordinary amounts,
sunlight and tanning rays are healthy! Sunburns are bad. Moderate
tanning can help keep you healthy and fit. Sunlight or tanning salons
can improve muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness while helping
prevent cancer and osteoporosis
New Study Shows that Lack of Ultraviolet-B Radiation
is a Major Cause of Many Types of Cancer.
William B. Grant, Ph.D.
12 Sir Francis Wyatt Place
Newport News, VA, 23606-3660 U.S.A.,
1-757-599-9811 (voice)
1-757-870-8434 (cell)
wbgrant@infi.net
Embargoed until 4:00 p.m. EST (2100 hours GMT) March 14, 2002
During the past two decades, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation from
the sun has been blamed for a significant increase in melanoma
and other skin cancer. However, during the same period, there
have been many articles in reputable journals indicating that
sunlight actually affords protection against many other types
of cancer. Using powerful statistical techniques developed for
environmental research, a new study has been done to quantitatively
determine how many additional cancer deaths are caused each year
in the U.S. by lack of sufficient UV-B radiation, so that its
total effects on cancer rates can be assessed more accurately.
The study, which was published in the March 15th issue of Cancer,
used the cancer mortality data reported for 500 areas in the U.S.
for 1970-1994. These data were recently posted by the National
Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute on the
Internet (http://cancer.gov/atlasplus/type.html). The data show
that the mortality rates for white-Americans for bladder, breast,
colon, corpus uteri, esophageal, ovarian, rectal, and stomach
cancer were about twice as high in New England as they were in
the southern states. Similar north-south patterns were also found
for African-Americans.
More detailed analyses showed that the cancer rates for the various
regions of the United States were inversely related to the amount
of UV-B to which the population was exposed, even when corrected
for most other known factors. For the year 2002, it can be conservatively
expected that lack of sufficient UV-B radiation exposure in many
parts of the country will lead to approximately 85,000 additional
cases from about a dozen types of cancers out of 1,285,000 projected
cases and 30,000 additional deaths out of 555,000 projected deaths
compared to what would occur if the entire country could obtain
the same UV-B exposure as is found in the southern part of the
country. It is also estimated that 35,000 of the 204,000 breast
cancer cases and 7,000 of the 40,000 breast cancer deaths in the
U.S. are related to insufficient UV-B radiation, as well as about
25% of the breast cancer rates in Europe. By way of comparison,
the total number of additional deaths that might occur from melanoma
and other skin cancer in the U.S. due to that same increased level
of UV-B exposure would be about 3,000.
The ideal case would, therefore, be to find some way of obtaining
the beneficial effects of UV-B exposure without suffering the
increased incidence of skin cancer. This may well be possible,
since the most likely reason for the protective role of UV-B is
to initiate the production of the D-vitamin 25(OH)D3, a vitamin
well known to reduce the risk of cancer. However, it has not yet
been shown that vitamin D3 supplements would act as a direct substitute
for increased exposure to UV-B radiation and, if so, what amounts
are required. Thus, further studies into the relationship between
this inexpensive vitamin, regional UV-B radiation doses, lifestyle
and other personal factors, and the rates of different types of
cancers should be extremely worthwhile, having the potential to
prevent many cases of cancer and save many lives now lost to cancer
annually in the United States.
William B. Grant, Ph.D., is a scientist who does independent
research on the dietary and environmental links to chronic diseases.
He may be reached at the contact points given above for further
information. Grant WB. An estimate of premature cancer mortality
in the United States due to inadequate doses of solar ultraviolet-B
radiation, Cancer, 94(6), 1867-1875, March 15, 2002.
See, also: Grant WB. An ecologic study of dietary and solar UV-B
links to breast cancer mortality rates. Cancer, 94, 272-281, Jan.
1, 2002.
Where can I learn more?
www.tanningtruth.com
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