Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Personal Injury Solicitors

Cancer risk increases if sunbeds breach safety limits (27 March 2014)

Date: 27/03/2014
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Cancer risk increases if sunbeds breach safety limits

An investigation by North Tyneside Council has found that some sunbeds in tanning salons in the region emit four times the legal limit for UV rays.

The Daily Mail reports that council researchers found that eight out of 10 sunbeds failed the council’s safety tests, with UV light bulbs that were so powerful they potentially put sunbed users at a higher risk of skin cancer.

The legal limit for sunbed emissions is 0.3 watts per square metre. The limit is the equivalent to the heat of the noon sun in Spain in summer.

The average wattage for sunbeds in North Tyneside was found to be 0.49 watts, with some sunbeds emitting 1.18 watts per square metre.

Out of 26 licensed tanning salons in the region, the council investigators found that 21 were breaching safe tanning limits. A total of 33 out of 50 sunbeds were found to be dangerous. The council has ordered the tanning salons involved to switch to a lower wattage of lamp.

Cancer Research UK said that sunbeds which fail to meet EU and UK safety standards are putting lives at risk.

Spokeswoman Nicola Smith said:

“The UV radiation given off by sunbeds leads to premature ageing – making skin look wrinkled, leathery and old before its time; and it also damages the DNA in your skin cells.

“Over time, this DNA damage can build up and lead to skin cancer.”

Around 13,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with skin cancer every year – and the numbers are rising annually. A 2013 study by Cancer Research UK found that sunbeds which emit double the standard UV light strength make users six-times more likely to develop melanoma than if they spent the same amount of time tanning in the Mediterranean sun in summer.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise on beauty treatments which cause injury as a result of professional negligence – including burns or skin damage from beauty treatments such as sunbeds, laser treatment and electrolysis, or hair treatments such as bleaching or dyeing.

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can also advise on making no win no fee claims for anti-wrinkle treatments gone wrong as a result of negligence, including dermal fillers or anti-wrinkle injections.

For expert help with making a no win no fee compensation claim for negligent beauty treatments, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


For all Personal Injury related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.