Althingi, the Icelandic parliament, today voted to ban young people from using sunbeds/lamps. The bill was proposed by the Ministry of Health in co-operation with the Radiation Safety Authority and will see under-18s excluded from tanning salons.
Artificial tanning lamps and beds increase the risk of skin cancer and children and teenagers are more susceptible to the UV rays than adults are. There is a proven link between childhood sunburn and skin cancer later in life, DV reports.
According to internationally recognised principles in radiation protection, radiation should only be purposefully used when the expected benefits outweigh the harm.
Tanning isn’t really fashionable in the states anymore, except on some trashy TV shows. Do people still do it in Iceland much ?
No, not really. There are a few who tan not for cosmetic reasons but to alleviate winter depression and get the Vitamin D that their bodies need.