The Melanoma Network of Canada Supports Oakville's Ground Breaking Tanning By-law

OAKVILLE, ON, Aug. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - The Melanoma Network of Canada is thrilled that the municipality of Oakville, Ontario has become the first municipality in Ontario to ban minors from using commercial tanning beds.  At a Town Council meeting held on August 13^th, Councillors recommended approval of the by-law.

The by-law was intially proposed by Annette Cyr, founder and Chair of the Melanoma Network of Canada. The issue was brought to Oakville Town Council by Councillors Ralph Robinson and Pam Damoff in May. The new by-law aims to promote and protect the health of children and youth from a recognized carcinogen by restricting minors under the age of 18 years from the use of ultraviolet (UV) emitting devices at indoor tanning facilities.

"The Melanoma Network is very supportive of this by-law, as we feel strongly that all governments have a duty to take action to protect youth from harmful UV rays," said Cyr. "The public needs to be aware of the risks posed for everyone, but most particularly our youth.  I commend Oakville for taking a strong stand and call on the province of Ontario to follow Oakville's lead and enact similar legislation to protect the public and our youth."

Part of the mandate of the Melanoma Network of Canada is to raise awareness about the damage that UV raditation can wreak on the human body. Cyr has been working with governments at all levels to enact regulations to protect people from harmful exposure to UV radiation.

Research by the World Health Organization, among many other health bodies, indicates that the use of tanning beds poses significant health risks, particularly in children and youth, increasing the tisk of developing melanoma or other skin cancers by up to 75 percent. Health Canada warns that indoor tanning beds generate about five times the amount of UVA radiation produced by the sun and are not a safe means of producing vitamin D, despite myths to the contrary.

To date, Texas, California, Belgium, Germany, France, New South Wales, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Victoria, B.C. have all passed laws banning minors from using tanning equipment. In May, at the urging of Ward 5 City Councillor Bonnie Crombie, the City of Mississauga passed a motion to create a similar by-law and the Region of Peel followed suit.

SOURCE: Melanoma Network of Canada