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

07 November 2009

Answer to Question #2085 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Suntanning

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

Which type of tanning causes more damage to the skin and is most harmful—tanning beds or suntanning? What are the reasons behind this? Which ray intake causes more damage: UV or UVB?

The reaction of a person to ultraviolet (UV) radiation with respect to tanning or sunburning is thought to be similar whether the exposure is on a sunbed or to solar radiation.

For information on effects of the different components of UV radiation (UVA, UVB, UVC) please see the Health Physics Society Web site Question 211 on Ask the Expert.

Gary Zeman, ScD, CHP
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Answer posted on 9 April 2003. 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.