Health board bans minors from using tanning beds
Howard is first jurisdiction in nation to institute ban
By Sarah Breitenbach
sbreitenbach@patuxent.com
Posted 11/10/09
The new regulation, introduced in September by County Executive Kenneth Ulman and Dr. Peter Beilenson, the county health officer, prohibits children younger than 18 from using the devices, which some studies suggest cause melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.
The measure will take effect Thursday.
The board’s decision followed a two-hour public hearing attended by about 60 people. During the hearing, proponents of the regulation argued that Maryland law, which requires parental permission for minors to tan, is not strong enough to protect minors against a known health hazard, while opponents argued that the board was overstepping its authority.
Ban proponent Jane Shapiro, an Ellicott City resident and melanoma survivor, said she lost her father and grandmother to the cancer.
She said she visited tanning salons in her late 20s for less than a year.
“I had a hard enough time dealing with melanoma in middle age, I can not imagine what it would be like dealing with melanoma as a teenager or young adult.”
The ban also had the support of Brittany Lietz, Miss Maryland 2006, who attributes her melanoma to two years of regular use of indoor tanning beds.
“If you need to tan to feel good, you should probably ask yourself how scars all over your body would look, because that’s the boat I am in now,” Lietz, 24 said earlier this fall.
Representatives from anti-cancer organizations, including the American Cancer Society and Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (the county executive’s brother Doug, whose cancer prompted establishment of the fund, is a skin cancer survivor), supported the measure.
Several cited a World Health Organization study that classifies tanning beds as a known carcinogen.
However, opponents discounted the study because it included people with Type One skin, which burns easily and does not tan.
Joe Levy, vice president for International Smart Tan said indoor tanning allows teens to build up a base tan in a controlled environment before outdoor sun exposure.
When asked by health board members if his organization keeps statistics on incidents of indoor tanning burns, he said did not have a specific number, but it would be a small percentage.
“If we burned people, they would not come back,” he said. “It isn’t in our best interest to burn people.”
Bruce Bereano, a lobbyist representing the Indoor Tanning Association, said that in order to create such a regulation under Maryland code, the board needed to prove tanning for minors is a nuisance or causes a disease.
“This record is woefully inaccurate and deficient to support that minors using a tanning salon is a public nuisance or causes disease,” he said.
Bereano promised to challenge the decision. “We’ll see them in court,” he said after the vote.
Salon owners and other advocates of indoor tanning also testified, arguing that banning minors from tanning salons would hurt business and that UV light exposure helps the body produce healthful Vitamin D.
Officials said there are 17 tanning salons in Howard County and more than 100 locations that offer tanning beds.
The ban also includes regulations on sanitation and hygiene practices, and requires tanning salons to register with the health officer each year.
There is no fine for failing to comply with age restrictions, but salon owners can be taken to court for allowing minors to tan, Beilenson said.
The only minors allowed to tan in Howard County will be those with a prescription indicating a medical condition.
The Baltimore County Council took public comment Tuesday on legislation that would create a similar ban. The seven-member council is scheduled to vote on the measure next week.
This story has been updated.
user comments (25)
user commonsenseplease says...
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HOW CAN A LAW GET PASSED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH OUR LEGISLATURE? HOW MANY MOM AND POP BUSINESSES ARE NOW WEEKS AWAY FROM CLOSURE? IRRESPONSIBLE. UNNECESSARY. NANNY STATE CRAP. ULMAN OR BELINSON WILL BE ON TV WITHIN THE WEEK. GUARANTEED. IS ANYONE ELSE GETTING READY FOR ELECTION SEASON?
Posted 2:34 AM, 11.11.09
user independent says...
Repeating an earlier question from a commenter, I ask Ulman and Beilenson if they have or will vote for a minor's right to terminate a pregnancy without parental permission. Compared with tanning beds, approval of a very weighty decision strikes a dischordant note.
Posted 6:56 AM, 11.11.09
user geniusthinker says...
Tanning beds cause cancer, plain and simple. We don't allow kids to buy tobacco or alcohol, why should tanning beds be any different? Way to go Health Board! Happy to live in a county that thinks the public's health is worth protecting.
Posted 8:25 AM, 11.11.09
user justmetoo says...
I know that cancer is dangerous and we need to protect ourselves from doing things and making bad decisions that can lead to it, but having the government tell individuals what they can and can not do does go too fair. In a sense, they are saying that the parents of the kids that want to tan can not take care of their kids and the government needs to step in. Next it will be fast food. Makes us obese (true) and parents and individuals can not make smart choices, so the government will do it for us. Education is the answer, not restriction and control.
Posted 10:13 AM, 11.11.09
user citizentaxpayerjane says...
Why tanning beds? As Justme above said, fast food leads to obesity and that is a much more epidemic cause of disease in the underaged compared to tanning beds. Why tanning and not mandate for sunscreen in school children? Are tanning bed facilities politically vulnerable?
Posted 10:36 AM, 11.11.09
user milton says...
I don't remember voting for any member of the Board of Health. Nice to know they can pass regulations like this without any approval from the Council or any other elected body.
Posted 10:41 AM, 11.11.09
user racermarty says...
My wife and I own tanning salons in Maryland and attended the hearing last evening. If you are not aware, each testifier is allowed 3 minutes to make their points. We are not professional speakers , just business people that have become experts in our chosen field. We have done extensive research inot the efccest of UV light on the human skin. What we have found is that there is NO correlation between moderate exposure to UV light and melanoma. In fact the newest research done by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Harvard Medical School affiliate) shows that exposure to UV light acually creates a protein in the skin that PREVENTS the formation tumors such as would cause melanoma. However, all research of this type was diregarded by the Board as, and I quote "too new". In my opinion the newer the research the better. Our knowledge base grows with time, not the other way around. We are therefore better equipped to draw more informed conclusion on research now than we were in the past. Current Vitamin D research is showing that higher levles of Vitamin D in our blood significanlty reduces the incidence of many life threatening cancers such as breast, colon, prostate to name just a few. To learn more, search the web for Vitamin D info. You may be surprised what you learn, and it may change your opinion about modern medical treatment and ethics. Additionally, there were other provisions of the regulations besides banning teenage tanning. There were economic santions placed upon slaons which will hamper thier ability to survive, especially in this challenging economy. In conclusion, we feel that the board had already made up its mind prior to the hearing and just needed to have a show trial to help legitimize their vote. We also feel that by depriving our youth of a safe, responsible and reliable method of acquiring Vitamin D with all its protective capabilities, they are doing more harm than good. THIS IS A BAD LAW!
Posted 11:56 AM, 11.11.09
user independent says...
Vitamin D decreases cancer according to recent studies. Google 'increase in cancer due to sunscreen use" and google vitamin d as a cancer preventative. We derive vit d from sunlight and there have been increases in certain cancers following widespread use of sunscreen.
Posted 12:21 PM, 11.11.09
user milton says...
Tanning is not a public health issue. The good or bad consequences from tanning affect only those who choose to tan. Unlike second hand smoke, drunk driving, etc. there are no social ills that are imposed upon third parties by those who make unhealthy tanning decisions. This is nothing more than a power grab by Ken Ulman, Peter Bielenson and the Health Department. Bielenson and Ken Ulman are desperate for attention on the national media stage. Every now and then these two will write editorials to the Baltimore Sun where they literally beg people to pay attention to their Health Howard Access Plan initiative. Taxpayers have committed one million dollars to the Healthy Howard Access Plan, and thus far it has helped about 300 people. This tanning regulation is completely absurd and worse it was approved by a Board of Health that was not voted for by the citizens. This is a clear misuse of government power by a few people desparate for national media attention.
Posted 12:30 PM, 11.11.09
user beatendowntaxpayer says...
Did anyone think to find out how many teens in Howard County actually use tanning beds? I'm guessing this will save as many lives as the county's ingenious "go inside if it's raining" campaign, or approximately 0.
Posted 5:51 PM, 11.11.09
user commonsenseplease says...
Me, CTJ and Independent on the same side of an issue. Nice!
Posted 8:11 PM, 11.11.09
user geniusthinker says...
racermarty, why is this such a big deal to tanning salon owners? If teen tanners make up only 1-2% of your business, why all the fuss? Do girls and teenagers make up a bigger part of your business than you are letting on? And when it comes to the science, doesn't it seem odd that EVERY credible health and medical group supports a ban on teenage use of tanning beds? Further, I haven't heard of one credible health group advocating tanning use for Vitamin D supplementation. Chewing on a vitamin comes without a cancer risk, right?
Posted 9:26 PM, 11.11.09
user independent says...
The point is that an increase in cancer risk may be offset by the benefit of increase in vitamin d with responsible use. The risk of cancer from tanning bed use is very questionable. And, yes commonsense, it is quite an issue when so diverse a group of sources agree.
Posted 7:21 AM, 11.12.09
user halmond74 says...
This is ridiculous! I WISH someone would have informed me about tanning when I was a teenager. I constantly burned when I was a teenager because I did not know how the tanning processed worked. As an adult who tans, I never burn. They say that burning is what causes skin cancer, so why wouldn't we want to prevent teens from burning. I'm so glad that I do not live in Howard Co., because my children will be tanning, not only to prevent burning, but to get their Vitamin D.
Posted 11:21 AM, 11.12.09
user sadworldthisis says...
As a young adult who used tanning beds year round since the age of 16, my vitamin D levels are where they should be, I'm healthy and never sun burnt when I was younger even though i lived in Florida. What makes me so so so sad is that government officials are so concerned about tanning but there are millions of teen suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, and other mental and emotional problems and everyone is so focused on tanning I was a troubled teen who battled drug addiction and there wasn't any government official trying to save my life. Do your Vitamin D research you idiots. You're the ones killing people by denying them sun exposure through the winter. What is this world coming to?
Posted 11:47 AM, 11.12.09
user tanfannickyg says...
This should be the parents decision NOT government.
Posted 12:38 PM, 11.12.09
user racermarty says...
geniusthinker, teen pruchases truly are a small percentage of our overall sales. However since we in the tanning industry believe that our bodies were made to benefit from moderate exposure to UV, we believe that legally prohibiting anyone from obtaining the health benefits is a crime against us all. Please Google "Dana Farber P53". You will see in the first paragraph proof that we are telling the real truth about UV exposure and Human Health. Then perhaps you will understand our frustrating position. We do not want to hurt people and do not believe we are. We are restricted by Federal Law against making any health claims from tanning beds, that's why you never hear of any even though there are in fact many. But, our opponents can say anything they wish against us. The worst part is that the Howard Health Board has now passed a law which will surely hurt rather than help the teens.
Posted 4:50 PM, 11.12.09
user racermarty says...
geniusthinker, if you use Bing and search on "Dana Faber p53 protein", the proper article should be the first hit. Thanks.
Posted 4:55 PM, 11.12.09
user watchdog says...
Beware Howard County, your elected official Ken Ulman and his appointed Board of Health (BOH) just took away your rights as parents to make decisions for your kids; is this just another notch in his political career? Is this what is right for the citizenry of Howard County? The State of Maryland already requires written - in person - parental consent before a teen can tan. What will they ban next, desserts, sports, too much homework? Without substantiated facts, it is pretty frightening that the government will totally ban a teen from tanning in a controlled environment regardless of parental approval, yet will allow a minor to get an abortion without parental consent. Pay attention folks, it’s up to you to rein in elected officials and keep them honest; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
Posted 5:57 PM, 11.12.09
user belovedcartoonmouse says...
Hahaha! Nannystate! Next up, laws requiring everyone to wear sunscreen!. If you want to damage your skin and get melanoma, go ahead. It's America. Well, it used to be.
Posted 7:20 PM, 11.12.09
user karismom says...
This is the most asinine, idiotic "law" that I've heard of (lately). Do you really think that teens will stay away from tanning beds before proms, etc. NO! They go to neighboring counties whose legislators didn't waste our hard earned tax dollars debating this ridiculous law. The only persons you are helping are the owners of the tanning salons in other counties! Oh, by the way, I'm a health care provider and the mother of a teen and while I don't condone tanning beds (or tanning via the SUN which is free and you can't legislate against it!), I feel this is a total waste of time.....
Posted 9:17 PM, 11.12.09
user celiesdad says...
1. This is not a "law." In the US, Laws are created by the legilatures and signed to by the executive. This is a "Regulation." Regulations are put into place by executive branch. Regulation are ancillary or subordinate to laws but both laws and regulations are enforceable. There is a "law" on the books that gave the Howard County Board of Health the right to enact "regulations" like this. 2. Should it be illegal to sell cigarettes to minors? As of yet, no scientific study has created a causal link between smoking and lung cancer - just as no scientific study has created a causal link between exposure to UV radiation and skin cancer. As a parent, if I want to put sunscreen on my kids before they go out in the sun and teach them of the dangers of over-exposure can have on their skin, then that is my right. As far as tanning salons go --- I do not want you to sell your services to my child just as much as I do to want a 7-11 to sell them cigarettes.
Posted 11:39 AM, 11.13.09
user milton says...
Celiesdad- first of all, tanning is not addictive so the analogy to a cigarette ban for minors is completely invalid. A better analogy would be a similar ban on trans fats or a ban on video games or a regulation that mandates exercise. Secondly, there is little or no meaningful distinction between an enforceable regulation and a law. If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig. The bottom line is that parents are responsible for raising their children and not the government. It not the job of some middle aged balding man like Peter Bielenson to raise everyone else’s children.
Posted 1:03 PM, 11.13.09
user geniusthinker says...
racermarty, I checked out the study that you were talking about and read alittle deeper -- it connected me to the following article. You better read both the original p53 article and the article following (you may have missed some of the more important parts). See http://tinyurl.com/ydczhuh Let me pull out some key phrases from both... "It raises the question of whether p53-mediated induction of β-endorphin is involved in sun-seeking behavior, which often increases skin cancer risk." and "One trigger for melanoma development appears to be ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, which can damage the skin's DNA." Turns out, the authors you site from Dana-Farber really found a chemical in the skin that could give a person a tan WITHOUT having to sit under a UV lamp. Also compelling from this study? "Such sunless tanning may also dissuade sun-seeking behaviors, which undoubtedly contribute significantly to high skin cancer incidence."
Posted 7:49 PM, 11.13.09
user justhavinfun says...
I just read that youf community is opening a methadone clinic. Wow..your little health board isn't concerned about the methadone hitting the streets? You're crazy if you don't think it will. BUT you have banned under 18 tanning. How weird?! We went to Florida a couple of years ago and my daughter got burned very bad after just 1 1/2 hours on the beach. Took her to urgent care at noon and then to the E.R at 9:00pm. The doctors on staff at the hospital said they see this way to often. They recommended that when we come back to Florida to make sure that we all get a base tan from a tanning salon first. They explained that the bad burns are what could cause cancer (not necessarily melanoma) later in life. Getting a base tan in a controlled envirnoment is much safer than sitting outside in the sun and now knowing how much damage you are actully doing until hour later. The docs said do the tanning salon in moderation and you are alot safer! I agree...I think that moderation is the key to just about everything we do in life. I live in a community that the community officials are pushing towards NOT allowing a methadone clinic scammer to open. SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON BOTH TOPICS.
Posted 12:37 AM, 11.15.09
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