Cancer expert backs ban on sunbeds

AS the country’s leading cancer expert comes out in support of the Health Minister’s call for a ban on sunbeds, a survey has found that staff operating the tanning devices have no knowledge of the dangers they pose.

National director of cancer control Professor Tom Keane said tough new laws and education were needed to tackle the nation’s love of tanning shops.

The professor said there is clear evidence that sunbeds could cause skin cancer, noting a recent research paper which classified them as a category one carcinogen.