Sunbeds are as likely to cause cancer as smoking and have been classified in the highest level of risk alongside cigarettes and asbestos by an expert committee reporting to the World Health Organisation.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which provides information to the WHO, upgraded its assessment of the risk posed by sunbeds after reviewing studies of the effects of tanning devices. It said that children and young people were at the greatest risk.

Ministers are considering a change in the law to protect young people from sunbeds and sun lamps. A Department of Health spokeswoman said last night: “Sunbeds can be dangerous — we must ensure that people use them safely. If necessary we will look at laws to protect young people.”

Sunbeds and sunlamps were previously classified as “probably carcinogenic” by the WHO. The panel of 20 scientists at the IARC has decided to place them and the ultraviolet radiation they emit in the highest risk category — “carcinogenic to humans” — along with tobacco smoke, asbestos, benzine and formaldehyde.

In their report, published today in The Lancet Oncology, Dr Fatiha El Ghissassi and colleagues write: “The risk of skin melanoma is increased by 75 per cent when use of tanning devices starts before 30. Additionally, several studies provide evidence of a positive association between the use of ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices and ocular melanoma (eye cancer).”

Jessica Harris, of Cancer Research UK, said:“Given the dangers of sunbeds, we want the Government to act now to ban under 18s from using [them], close salons that aren’t supervised by trained staff and ensure information about the risks of using sunbeds is given to all customers.”

However, the Sunbed Association disputed the research. “There is no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer,” Kathy Banks, its chief executive, said.

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