Most sun beds fail safety standards

Nine out of 10 sun beds in England fail to meet British and European safety standards, research in the British Journal of Dermatology suggests.

The levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by 400 sun beds were on average two times higher than recommended limits, the study found.

Researchers warn the number of skin cancers may increase if stricter controls are not put in place.

But sun bed manufacturers say regulation is making them safer to use.

The Cancer Research UK study examined 402 sun beds across England between 2010 and 2011.

The researchers also looked at the risk of developing skin cancer from sun beds compared with the risk associated with tanning in the Mediterranean sun.

They found the cancer risk from sun beds was more than twice that of spending the same length of time in the midday sunshine.

Regulation on sun beds came into force in 2009, but the researchers suggest stricter control measures are required to prevent an increase in the number of skin cancers.