What ‘75% Increased Risk’ Really Means
Anti-sun groups have been parroting a message from the World Health Organization in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Their message is “use of sunbeds before the age of 35 is associated with a 75 percent increase in the risk of melanoma.”
This is a grossly misleading statistic, as NaturalNews.com points out:
In an article for Wilmington’s News Journal, AHCJ member Hiran Ratnayake reviewed the research that led to the oft-quoted statistic of 75 percent increased risk. He found that a review of research from a number of different studies did indeed find an average 75 percent increase in those who used tanning beds. But the original risk was so low (roughly two-tenths of 1 percent) that even a 75 percent increase means a final risk still well under 1 percent.
“The sun scare industry uses trumped up statistics like these to frighten people into using their products and services,” Smart Tan Vice President Joe Levy said. “It’s a misleading and deceitful tactic.”
