Two recent reports have conflicting ideas on radiation: one shows the dangers while the other shows the benefits.
The first one is on the fact that tanning beds are now off limits to anyone under 18 years old if the recent proposal from the Food and Drug Administration goes through. It would prevent all minors from indoor tanning, after the FDA stressed the dangers of tanning, including burns, eye damage and even skin cancer.
“Today’s action is intended to help protect young people from a known and preventable cause of skin cancer and other harms,” acting FDA Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, M.D. said. “Individuals under 18 years are at greatest risk of the adverse health consequences of indoor tanning.”
Along with the ban on minors, the FDA is also in the midst of proposing new safety regulations on indoor tanning for everyone. That would mean easy to read labels to warn consumers, emergency shutoff switches, better eye safety, and better labeling on equipment overall.
Alabama already requires a parent’s consent in order for 16- and 17-year-olds to tan; meanwhile, a 15-year-old needs a parent actually with them to tan, and no one under 14 can participate at all. In all, eleven states plus Washington, D.C., already prohibit tanning for minors.
On the flip side though, another report speaks about the benefits of low-level radiation. In fact, research is now showing that electromagnetic waves could help to slow certain forms of brain cancer.
Those suffering from glioblastoma ended up with slightly higher survival rates in addition to less recurrence of the cancer when their head was exposed to electromagnetic field therapy with chemotherapy.
The therapy is simply called tumor-treating fields and has been approved for use in the United States. Research is now being done to see if it may help with other cancer types as well, reported lead researcher Dr. Roger Stupp, chairman of the department of oncology and cancer center at the University Hospital Zurich.
“This treatment may soon become a valuable addition to many situations where improved local tumor control by a noninvasive treatment is of importance,” Stupp said.
Many have pointed to cell phone use as a cause for an increase in brain cancer globally. In fact, many scientists have said that keeping the phone an inch away from the face may not even be enough.
However, this study calls this suggestion into question. Only time will tell which finding is the correct one.
