What's New?
.	HPS and CRCPD Proclaim 8-14 November 2009 as National Radiation Protection Professionals Week
.	November Newsletter
.	NRC Academic Program Nuclear Education Grants, FY2010, Now Accepting Applications
.	November ORS
.	November Journal
.	EPA's STAR Graduate and GRO Undergraduate Fellowship Funding Now Accepting Applications

Upcoming Events
.	2010 HPS Midyear Topical Meeting Radiation Risk Communication to the Public 24-27 January 2010 Albuquerque, NM
.	2010 HPS Professional Development School Radiation Risk Communication: Issues and Solutions 27-29 January 2010 Albuquerque, NM

08 November 2009

Answer to Question #1850 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Suntanning

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Which is safer for people in general to use . . . tanning beds or just lying out in the sun? . . . and, will sunblock make either method of tanning safer in any way?

The risk of skin cancer is due to the same ultraviolet rays that produce tanning, whether from the sun or from a tanning booth. Sunblock absorbs much of the UV to reduce the amount of UV reaching the skin, which reduces both risk and tanning effect. The net effect of the sunblock is to make it take longer to achieve the same level of tanning. Gary H. Zeman, ScD

Answer posted on 27 April 2002. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.