Final answer:
Even though tanning salons use UV radiation that is said to be safer, any form of UV can potentially cause cell damage and induce skin cancer with prolonged exposure. The World Health Organization classifies UV radiation as a Group 1 carcinogen alongside substances like tobacco. Protective measures are advised to mitigate the risks associated with UV exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tanning salons often claim to use "safe" UV radiation with a longer wavelength than some of the UV in sunlight, which has enough photon energy to trigger the tanning response without the harsh effects of shorter wavelengths. However, the notion that any form of UV radiation is completely safe is misleading. Exposure to UV radiation has been linked to about 90% of all skin cancer cases, and the World Health Organization classifies it as a Group 1 carcinogen. This categorization signifies that UV radiation is known with virtual certainty to cause cancer, similar to other well-known carcinogens like tobacco and plutonium.
UV radiation from tanning beds, despite being low in energy compared to UV-B and UV-C sunlight components, can still cause cell damage and potentially lead to skin cancer with prolonged exposure. Even moderate UV exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer, especially for individuals with risk factors like having light-colored skin or a lot of moles. The dangerous spectrum of UV radiation, known as UV B (with wavelengths of 280-320 nm), is what causes sunburn and increases the likelihood of cancerous mutations in DNA.
Ultimately, while tanning might seem harmless or controlled in a salon setting, it is important to understand that there are risks involved. Protective measures like sunscreen and limiting exposure to UV radiation are recommended to reduce the risk of cell damage and skin cancer. Thus, in response to the question whether the so-called "safe" UV can cause cell damage and induce cancer with prolonged exposure, the answer would be (a) Yes, even safe UV can cause cell damage and cancer.