By SETH SLABAUGH
seths@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE — Delaware County’s proposed ordinance to regulate tanning salons has caught the attention of the Indoor Tanning Association, a national trade group based in Washington, D.C., which sent one of its attorneys here last month to express concern.

The county health department plans to start inspecting tanning facilities, with an emphasis on protecting minors.

ITA is hopeful that once county officials hear both sides of the issue they will conclude that local regulation “is something that really isn’t necessary,” said ITA president John Overstreet.

“Indiana is already one of the more heavily regulated states,” Overstreet said. “We’re just not seeing any problemsjustifying the health department getting involved with it.

“With all sorts of big public health concerns like AIDS and swine flu that health departments are facing, we’re a little bit mystified why they would want to pull away precious resources to address something that’s not a real problem.”

But even after meeting with ITA’s attorney, county health officials still hope that county commissioners will enact the ordinance, which is being drafted.

While tanning salons already are licensed by the State Board of Cosmetology Examiners, that agency lacks the manpower to inspect tanning facilities and enforce state laws.

What prompted local health officials to take action was the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s classification of the use of ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices as “carcinogenic to humans.”

Overstreet calls the study on which the classification was based “flawed and skewed.”

“This study created huge media attention last summer, but I guarantee you 99 percent of the media never even read it,” Overstreet said. “My guess is the local health department never read these studies either. I urge you to ask them that question.”

County health department Administrator Robert Jones admitted he had not read the study.

In addition to state regulations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the actual tanning devices, Overstreet added.

Regarding the shortage of state inspectors, Overstreet commented, “My guess is if this was a problem they would be a lot more involved.”

Jones cited a National Cancer Institute study that found women who use tanning beds more than once a month are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma.

Moderate tanning, for people who can develop a tan, is the smartest way to maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight, according to ITA.

“It has long been understood that overexposure to UV light, whether from the sunshine or a tanning bed, is associated with increased risk of some forms of cancer,” the group says. “This is why the Indoor Tanning Association has always emphasized the importance of moderation.”

Jones said ITA’s arguments remind him of the arguments made by the tobacco industry years ago in defending smoking.

“We are relying on what we feel to be credible sources of information, including the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute,” Jones said. “We feel a lot of skin cancer can be prevented, and we will make the time to address this if we are given the opportunity through an ordinance.”

Several dermatologists have expressed support for the ordinance, including Rebecca Bushong.

“I practiced dermatology in Muncie a number of years ago and was upset by the degree of tanning I saw and am still seeing,” she told Jones in an e-mail. “I suspect the Indiana Academy of Dermatology would also be extremely supportive of anything that can be done to reduce the epidemic of skin cancer that we are seeing.”

In a letter, Indianapolis dermatologist Hannah Huddleston told Jones, “Given the risk of skin cancer associated with indoor tanning and the recent consideration of indoor tanning as an official human carcinogen, this is a very worthy cause and is to be applauded.”

Overstreet responded by saying the risk is very low.

“You buy a lottery ticket and  your chances of winning are one in a million,” he said. “You buy two tickets and you’ve doubled your odds. It’s the same with these cancer studies. The risk is very small to begin with.”

Asked whether ITA would challenge the legality of the local ordinance in court, Overstreet said, “I don’t know about that.” His hope is education will be sufficient.

Contact news reporter Seth Slabaugh at 213-5834.