Cancer council backs solarium crackdown: [2 All-round First Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 25 Aug 2007: 4.
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"In a nation that has for many years had the world's highest skin cancer incidence and mortality rates, it is unacceptable that we significantly increase our risk of a potentially deadly disease through artificial means in an unregulated environment," Professor [Ian Olver] said.
"Addressing the escalating and unregulated proliferation of solariums is a good opportunity for the Government to complement its ongoing skin cancer prevention campaign with some evidence-based policy in an area that has not been addressed at any level of government," Professor Olver said.
THE Cancer Council Australia has welcomed moves to introduce uniform laws to regulate solariums.
Chief executive Ian Olver said the proliferation of solariums was a serious public health issue.
John Howard announced yesterday that he would consult Health Minister Tony Abbott about the introduction of national laws.
The move comes in response to the Victorian Government's announcement that it would tighten controls on the solarium business following the case of a 25-year-old Melbourne woman Clair Oliver, a former solarium user who is dying of skin cancer.
Professor Olver said research showed that the number of solariums in Australian capital cities had increased fourfold over the past decade, with more than 400 operating without any uniform regulation.
He said research also showed that the present voluntary code was not working, with evidence of poor industry compliance in areas such as restricting solarium use for people younger than 18.
"In a nation that has for many years had the world's highest skin cancer incidence and mortality rates, it is unacceptable that we significantly increase our risk of a potentially deadly disease through artificial means in an unregulated environment," Professor Olver said.
"Solariums can produce UV radiation up to five times stronger than the midday summer sun, and when used before the age of 35, increase melanoma risk by up to 75 per cent."
He said he looked forward to hearing more from the federal Government.
"Addressing the escalating and unregulated proliferation of solariums is a good opportunity for the Government to complement its ongoing skin cancer prevention campaign with some evidence-based policy in an area that has not been addressed at any level of government," Professor Olver said.
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