New Jersey lawmakers say that since the 1970s, the state has regulated sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug and can ban it from schools.
State Rep. Nancy Munoz, R-Union, introduced a bill Wednesday that would instruct schools to allow students to use sunscreen and have school staff assist them in certain situations.
Munoz, a former nurse, said visitors to the Jersey Shore aren't the only ones vulnerable to the effects of sun exposure.
“Children need protection all day long, including during recess, sports and outdoor activities. Sunscreen, protective clothing and shade are the most effective way to protect children from the risk of skin cancer,” she said.
“But it’s not easily available in schools without a doctor’s note. [FDA] It is classified as an over-the-counter drug.”
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Munoz noted that while sunscreen is indeed subject to federal regulation and testing because it is used to prevent or treat disease, students need access to it.
Dr. Seth Matarasso, president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, told Fox News Digital on Thursday that 90 percent of skin cancers are preventable.
“Helping children reduce their UV exposure and helping them develop lifelong sun protection habits is one of the best things we can do to protect them,” he said.
“We are pleased to see New Jersey taking the lead in protecting children from excessive sun exposure.”
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Munoz said unprotected exposure to UV rays is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States.
Last September, Jimmy Buffett, a writer and longtime star of “Margaritaville,” died after a battle with a type of aggressive skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. About 8,000 Americans died last year from the more common form of melanoma skin cancer.
“It is our responsibility as adults to protect the health and well-being of New Jersey's children through reasonable, common-sense laws,” Munoz said, adding that school sports and recess should not be subject to such risks.
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Notebooks and pencils on a desk in a school classroom (iStock)
The bill also had Republican Rep. Michelle Matsikoudis of New Providence as its first co-sponsor as of Thursday morning.
In Congress, another Garden State lawmaker has sounded the alarm about the risks of skin cancer and launched the “Sunscreen Safety Plan,” with goals such as streamlining the FDA approval process.
“One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, and more than two people die from skin cancer every hour in our country.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (DN.J) In a recent statement.
“It's important that more Americans use sunscreen and that we all have access to the best and most up-to-date sunscreen products on the market.”
Gottheimer also said that only 35 percent of sunscreens sold in the United States meet European Union standards, which are considered stricter.
