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UK Health Department Withdraws Claim Linking Sunbeds to Smoking Risk

First article: 21 mar. 2026, 09:00 | Last update: 21 mar. 2026, 09:00 | 1 source | 1 article

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Based on 1 source, 1 article

The UK Department of Health has withdrawn a statement that equated the dangers of sunbed use to those of smoking. The retraction follows criticism from experts who questioned the validity of the comparison. The initial claim had generated significant debate within the health community, with many arguing that it lacked sufficient scientific backing.

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Department of Health retracts claim sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking Foto: The Guardian
The Guardian 21 mar. 2026, 09:00 (3 hours ago)

Department of Health retracts claim sunbeds are as dangerous as smoking

DHSC corrects statements after regulator intervenes as experts say smoking causes far more cancer casesThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has had to retract a misleading claim that sunbeds are as dangerous a cancer risk as smoking.In January, health officials announced stricter rules for sunbeds, incorrectly claiming they were “as dangerous as smoking”. The comparison was repeated in social media posts shared by the health secretary and NHS England and was reported by a number of me

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