Guest guest Posted December 21, 2002 Report Share Posted December 21, 2002 ----- Original Message ----- From: " Kathi " <pureheart@...> Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 6:01 PM Subject: TDN - Tanning Beds > Media Advisory: Government Findings Of Ultraviolet > Light And Tanning Beds Disputed By Experts > > Report Issued Last Week Contains Misleading > Consumer Information > > Experts Encourage Consumers To Tan Responsibly > > ATLANTA, GA -- (INTERNET WIRE) -- 12/19/2002 > -- A new federal report, the 10th > Report On Carcinogens (RoC), released to the > public last week by the Department of Health > and Human Services' National Toxicology > Program (NTP), contains misleading information > about the effects of ultraviolet light > associated with the use of indoor tanning equipment, > according to experts. The listing is being > challenged by independent scientists, tanning industry > trade associations, and Wolff System > Technology. > > The RoC listed for the first time, > broad-spectrum ultraviolet radiation (UVR), whether > generated by the sun or by artificial sources, > as a " known " cause of cancer in humans. At a > recent industry conference last week, Dr. > Cyr, acting Branch Chief of the Centers for > Devices and Radiologic Health (CDRH), a branch > of the FDA, commented that his Working > Group on Sunlamps at CDRH had investigated the > relationship between sunlamps and > melanoma and concluded that the scientific > data was suggestive of a linkage, but that the > linkage was not definitely proven. His > conclusions were consistent with a classification of > sunlamps as a probable cause of cancer, and > differed from the classification of the NTP's > RoC as a known cause of cancer. In his > comments at the recent industry meeting, Cyr stated > that the NTP's classification as a known human > carcinogen was premature. The FDA has not > taken a position on the NTP's classification, > but Dr. Cyr has spoken with the NTP recently > and expressed his concerns about the > classification category. Dr. Cyr also pointed out that > some of the studies cited to support the NTP's > conclusions lack statistical " power, " because > they were studies on small numbers of people > and limited exposure times, and suffered from > recall bias. Some of the researchers of the > cited papers have since published reports > contradicting their earlier findings. > > Industry experts cite most of the " science " is > with genetically selected fish, rats or mice that > are either pre-disposed to cancer or contain > no melanin, which is a natural sunscreen > produced by humans to protect against further > damage from UV. Dr. Cyr and other scientists > note that drawing conclusions about humans > based on fish/mice studies is difficult, if not > impossible, primarily because humans have > repair mechanisms that are not present in > " sensitive " lab animals. Cyr pointed out that > the studies on using " sensitive " animals are > important in understanding the mechanism of > damage and repair, but are often not as useful in > determining the extent of cancer risks in > humans. > > A new European case-controlled study has shown > that use of indoor tanning equipment is not > associated with melanoma skin cancer. The > researchers stated, " No evidence was found for > an association between sunbed use and > melanoma. " Previously, the authors of the study, as > quoted in the RoC, had supported such a link, > but the updated information was not published > in this week's report. > > Dr. F. Holick, professor of Medicine, > Physiology and Biophysics at Boston > University Medical Center, advocates > responsible UV exposure owing to its beneficial > aspects far outweighing the risk. " Exposure to > ultraviolet radiation from a fluorescent tanning > bed with UVB results in the photosynthesis of > vitamin D in human skin. This helps maintain the > vitamin D requirement of the body. When > vitamin D levels are adequate, calcium metabolism > is preserved, and this reduces the risk of > development of bone disease, including > osteoporosis, " he said. In addition, Dr. > Holick cited studies whereby vitamin D can alleviate > symptoms caused by osteomalacia. > > Ronni Sandroff, editor of Consumer Reports on > Health, said in a recent report on CBS' Early > Show, " As the days get shorter and winter > approaches, most Americans will be soaking in > fewer sun rays. But that's not necessarily a > good thing. " > > The body relies on the sun to get most of the > vitamin D it needs to stay healthy. A recent study > estimates that tens of thousands of Americans > die each year of cancers possibly caused by > too little sun exposure and too little vitamin > D. Research studies have found that insufficient > levels of vitamin D can also contribute to > developing different types of cancer, such as colon > and prostate cancer, heart disease and Type 1 > diabetes. > > " The public is not well > served by incomplete reports that still > contain dated, inaccurate > information, " said Stepp, > president and CEO of Wolff > System Technology, the leading > supplier of lamps for > indoor tanning beds. " Although > well-intentioned, the > report provides a 'half-empty glass' scenario > that fails to document independent, published > scientific research that supports UV light > exposure. We encourage the media, physicians > and consumers to obtain a copy of the report > in order to read the findings, which will > allow them to make educated decisions. " > > From its own listing crtiteria, the RoC does > not present quantitative assessments of > carcinogenic risk and does not establish that > such substance presents a risk to persons in their > daily lives, according to Overstreet, > executive director of the Indoor Tanning > Association. " Listing in the report does not > establish that such substance presents a risk to > persons in their daily lives. Ultraviolet > light has become the first item on that list that humans > need in order to live and would die if they > didn't receive. That is nothing less than confusing. " > > According to ITA, the federal government > violated its own procedures in placing ultraviolet > light from tanning lamps on the list. > According to specific guidelines published by the National > Toxicology Program, the tanning industry > should have been invited to be involved in > discussions on this listing in early stages of > the process. In 1999, Smart Tan, an international > trade association for tanning salon owners, > pointed out this omission to the NTP, which > ignored their request for a delay and pushed > the listing. > > The criteria to be on the list does not take > into consideration the dosage required for a > substance to be harmful. Overstreet cited the > listing is similar to when saccharine, which was > included on the list in the 1980s, was removed > last year because the dosage required to cause > cancer in lab animals was later revealed to be > unrealistic. > > According to Wolff System Technology's Stepp, > the public should be aware of the following: > > - Epidemiologic studies linking exposures > to skin cancer are > limited because they lack information > on the specific > wavelengths of UVR to which the > individuals were exposed. > Tanning beds used in these studies > involved the use of lamps > used in the early 1970s, which produced > significant amounts > of UVB and are not being sold today. > Originally, tanning beds > used in the study were built with > mercury arc lamps, which > emitted large quantities of UVB and > UVC. Today's lamps emit > mostly UVA. > > - According to the UVR Research > Institute, unlike mice commonly > used in research, humans' own natural > skin color and acquired > pigmentation - better known as a " tan " > ? work synergistically > to protect human DNA from damage. > Therefore, the " core, " or > baseline business of indoor tanning > salons delivering UVR, is > that they help their clients develop > protective pigmentation > when possible and often will protect > the skin from being > sunburned. > > - The industry contends that moderation > is the answer to > warnings issued by dermatologists and > government agencies of > potential skin damage from indoor > tanning. The list does not > mean that moderate tanning will cause > skin cancer. > > - The Department acknowledges it does not > address or attempt to > balance potential benefits of use of > alleged > carcinogen-causing products. > > - An August New York Times article > stated, " The possibility > that (sunlight) may wield some kind of > anti-cancer power no > longer seems so far-fetched ... " It > went on to report that in > April 2002, researchers at the cancer > institute reported that > " the chances of dying from breast, > colon, ovarian and prostate > cancer were reduced by about 10 to 27 > percent for people in > the sunniest areas ... Some early > experiments have also found > that the vitamin D compounds convert > tumor cells into normal > cells. " > > - Anti-tanning lobbyists have > intentionally confused the public > to believe that any UV light exposure > is dangerous. In fact, > regular moderate sun exposure is not > linked to melanoma, but > intermittent sunburn - particularly > among those who are > predisposed to sunburn - is believed to > be the risk factor. > > - In addition, ultraviolet light therapy > is also used to treat > psoriasis, a chronic skin disease > affecting millions of > Americans, and other skin disorders. > Exposure to UV can > prevent osteoporosis as well. > > - According to the UVR Research > Institute, for every person who > dies prematurely each year as a > consequence of overexposure > to UVR, there are 100 people who die > prematurely each year as > a consequence of underexposure to UVR. > Research has shown > that moderate UV exposure may be > associated with a decrease > in the risk of breast, prostate, colon > and ovarian cancer, > and has also been linked to reducing > high blood pressure, and > to reducing the risk of osteoporosis. > > - Indoor tanning is a more healthy, > cautious alternative to the > risks of outdoor tanning because the > amount of time and the > intensity of the skin's exposure to > ultra violet rays are > controlled. Building a tan gradually > and responsibly helps > avoid damaging consequences of too much > exposure to the sun. > > - The RoC makes a distinction between > " known " human > carcinogens, where there is sufficient > evidence from human > studies, and " reasonably anticipated " > human carcinogens, > where there is either limited evidence > of carcinogenicity > from human studies and/or sufficient > evidence of > carcinogenicity from experimental > animal studies. Ultraviolet > light was listed as " Reasonably > Anticipated To Be A Human > Carcinogen. " In the Departmebnt's own > definition, " There is > limited evidence of carcinogenicity > from studies in humans, > and " there is less than sufficient > evidence of > carcinogenicity in humans or laboratory > animals. " In addition > the RoC says, " There may be substances > for which there is > evidence of carcinogenicity in > laboratory animals but there > are compelling data indicating that the > agent acts through > mechanisms which do not operate in > humans and would therefore > not reasonably be anticipated to cause > cancer in humans. " > > - According to the Report, malignant > melanoma of the eye also > is associated with use of sunlamps. > There is little support > for an association between exposure to > sunlamps or sun beds > and non-melanocytic skin cancer. > > Wolff System Technology is one of the > industry's leaders in the promotion of responsible > tanning practices and has always promoted > responsible tanning in moderation to protect the > skin from sunburn and skin damage. > > Moderate indoor tanning - for individuals who > can develop a tan - is the smartest way to > maximize the potential benefits of sun > exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated > with either too much or too little sunlight. > > Despite media reports to the contrary and > dermatologists' warnings, record numbers of > people like to tan in order to improve their > appearance, general sense of well-being and > receive available health benefits. " The > responsible thing to do is to teach people that have > chosen to tan how to do it responsibly and in > moderation, " said Stepp. > > NOTE TO EDITORS: > > Wolff System Technology is offering a copy of > the full 13-page report on ultraviolet light as > well as a backgrounder release, " How to Tan > Responsibly, " to the media and will facilitate all > interview requests. > > About Wolff System Technology > > Wolff System was founded by Friedrich Wolff, > " the father " of the indoor tanning industry. The > company, with patents in 16 countries, is the > exclusive licensor of Wolff System certified > tanning beds in the United States and Canada. > As the leading supplier of lamps for indoor > tanning beds, Wolff has more than 500,000 > systems in use worldwide. With licensed Wolff > System tanning equipment, the amount and type > of exposure to ultraviolet light is predictable > and consistent, unlike outdoor tanning where > variables include the time of day, season, cloud > cover, and proximity to the equator. For more > information, contact (800) 959-6533, e-mail > sales@... or visit > www.wolffsystem.com. > > > -- > " Whatever a person thinketh in his heart so is he. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.