Governor Tom Corbett signed off on a bill that is expected to protect minors from the dangerous effects of tanning beds.
The bill, authored by Langhorne-based State Rep. Frank Farry, states that residents under the age of 17 will no longer be allowed to use indoor tanning beds at commercial facilities. Indoor tanning facilities will be required to post warnings that tanning is carcinogenic and pay an annual fee. In addition, the law allows for inspections and safety standards for all tanning facilities.
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Heavy use of tanning beds has been linked to a rise in skin cancer diagnoses in young people. According to the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, melanoma is the most common form of cancer in young adults aged 25-29 years old, and the second most common type of cancer in those aged 15-29. About 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are girls and women between the ages of 14 and 29.
“Cancer is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, but more and more young adults are putting themselves at great risk for developing the deadliest type of skin cancer, and all for superficial benefits,” Farry said. “We are concerned many teens and their parents do not fully understand the deadly consequences that can come with indoor tanning.”
“The Indoor Tanning Regulation Act includes a ‘prom carve-out’ for 17-year-olds, requiring parental consent to visit an indoor tanning facility,” a press release from Farry’s office reads.
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The new law will not impact this year’s prom season and the ritual of pre-prom tanning. The law will go into effect in the next 60 days.
Farry’s office said the World Health Organization classifies radiation emitted from tanning beds as a class I carcinogen. A class I carcinogen is the highest level of carcinogen and in the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
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“We don’t permit minors to smoke or drink in Pennsylvania, and with research indicating ultraviolet exposure can be equally dangerous, it’s time we join the company of the 40 other states that presently regulate indoor tanning, protecting children from its carcinogenic effects,” Farry said.
The bill was supported by the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery.
