Nassau County legislators Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) and Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside), along with their Majority colleagues, today approved a law to protect Nassau teens from the harmful effects of indoor tanning devices. Called the Colette Coyne Skin Cancer Prevention Bill in memory of a young woman who lost her life at the age of 30 to skin cancer, the legislation requires anyone under the age of 18 who wishes to use a tanning facility to have signed, written consent from his or her parent or legal guardian and anyone under the age of 16 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The legislators heard testimony from the deceased woman’s mother, also named Colette Coyne, of the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign; Will Stoner, Regional Advocacy Director for the American Cancer Society; and skin cancer survivor Michelle Spano.

The proposed law received bipartisan support of the members of the full legislature.

Significant health risks have been attributed to the usage of indoor tanning devices,” said Legislator Yatauro. “Most importantly, the lights used in tanning beds and sun lamps give off mainly ultraviolet – A (UVA) radiation, which is classified as a probable human cancer-causing agent by the International Agency for Cancer Research.”

Risks associated with ultra violet radiation include, but are not limited to, sunburn, premature aging, skin cancer, retinal damage, formation of cataracts, suppression of immune system and damage to the vascular system.

“Tanning beds can boost the risk of skin cancer by as much as 55 percent,” said Legislator Toback, chairman of the Health and Social Services Committee. “Teens that frequent these tanning salons are more concerned about how they look and are not worried or cognizant of the serious dangers associated with ultraviolet rays.”

A recent report done by Dartmouth researchers found that people who visited a tanning salon were two and a half times more likely to later get squamous cell skin cancer and one and a half times more likely to develop basal cell skin than those who did not.

Dr. Ashfaq A. Marghoob, M.D. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Dermatology Center in Hauppauge, agrees that, "excessive exposure to intense ultraviolet light is a know risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Furthermore, excessive exposure during youth may heighten this risk. Thus, limiting tanning parlor access to minors makes intuitive sense and may reduce their risk for developing cancers of the skin during their life-time."

The proposed local law will require;

• Anyone under the age of 16 who wishes to use a tanning facility to be accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian
• Anyone under the age of 18 who wishes to use a tanning facility must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Upon the customer’s first visit, all tanning facilities must provide the customer with a written warning to be signed by the customer prior to using any ultraviolet radiation device. The signed warning will be kept on file by the facility.
• Any customer who wishes to use a tanning facility must be required to wear protective eyewear or be provided with protective eyewear without additional charge.
• The tanning facility must post at the front or main entrance and within three feet of any ultraviolet radiation device, a clear and visible warning sign.
• An operator who is sufficiently knowledgeable in the correct operation of the tanning devices used at the facility must be present during operating hours.
• All tanning facilities must maintain an electronic record of the use of the facility by each customer that includes the dates and durations of each customer’s tanning exposures, as well as his or her total number of tanning exposures at such facility for a period of three years after exposure.

“Unprotected exposure to UV rays of the sun, or artificial tanning, increases one's risk for skin cancer later in life,” said Ms. Coyne, president of the Collette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign. “Laws have always been a safeguard for the good of the community. Parents need support in protection of their teens, thus we have legislation regarding the sale of cigarettes, alcohol and harmful body building substance. Unfortunately the population in general is still unaware of the harmful effects of UV rays,” said

Any tanning facilities found to be in violation of this law will be subject to a fine of up to $500 for the first violation; up to $1000 for the second violation; and up to $1500 for the third violation. The law will take effect 45 days from its approval through the full legislature.