Does Suntan Lotion Cause Melanoma?
If people expose themselves to sunlight using sunscreens that prevent sunburn, which is produced by UV-B, they will increase their exposure to melanoma-inducing UV-A (S. Fred Singer, Science and Environmental Policy Project). Thus, a study might show that suntan lotion was correlated with melanoma. By today’s nonreasoning (correlation = cause-effect), Coppertone should be banned. R.B. Setlow concludes that the best protection against sunlight-induced cancers is to wear clothing or stay indoors (Mutation Research 307:365-374, 1994). The Antarctic is thus a great place to be if you want to avoid skin cancer, the ozone hole notwithstanding. You are also quite unlikely to drown there, as Jim Hogan pointed out in Omni.
