Comptroller Stringer Report Finds Skin Cancer Cases On The Rise, Proposes Program To Provide Free Sunscreen At City Parks, Beaches, Pools, And Playgrounds

(New York, NY) – As summer vacation begins for 1.1 million schoolchildren and City pools open, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today released a report which outlines the high risk of skin cancer in New York City and called on the City to explore innovative partnerships to provide free sunscreen dispensers at all public parks, beaches, pools and playgrounds. The Comptroller’s proposal, outlined in a new policy brief, “Sunscreen in the City,” highlights the connection between sun exposure and skin cancer and puts forward a series of tested ways the City can provide free sunscreen in public places at virtually no cost to taxpayers.

“Skin cancer is a serious public health concern, and it demands government attention,” Comptroller Stringer said. “When New Yorkers head to our City’s parks, beaches, pools, and playgrounds this summer, they shouldn’t return home with a sunburn and increased risk of skin cancer. Providing free sunscreen to City residents can protect our children and save lives, and we can do it at virtually no cost to the City.”

The Comptroller’s policy brief examines two programs operating in Boston and Miami Beach which have provided free sunscreen for the public, at virtually no cost to the cities. Boston and Miami Beach’s programs offer different models for the City to explore:

• Boston has at least 20 free dispensers in city parks, funded through grants from public health groups and advocacy organizations. In the year since its launch, Boston’s free sunscreen dispensers have proven so successful that the coalition is seeking to expand the program for this coming summer, both in Boston and beyond.

• Miami Beach signed an innovative licensing agreement in 2014 which allows a private company to produce and market Miami Beach branded sunscreen. In return, the city receives royalties from sales, and the company operates approximately 50 free sunscreen dispensers at no cost to taxpayers. Additional funding for the program is provided by a grant from a local hospital group.

Taking inspiration from these models, New York City should explore partnerships with advocacy groups, New York-based hospitals, and other organizations. The City should also consider the feasibility of crafting a licensing agreement which would harness the value of the City’s brand – already used to sell several other consumer products – to fund free sunscreen dispensers at City parks, beaches, pools and playgrounds.

The report highlights sobering statistics on skin cancer and the risks in New York City:

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more new cases every year than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer combined.

• Between 2006 and 2011, the average number of adults treated for skin cancer annually grew nearly 40 percent. Each year, skin cancer takes the lives of more than 10,000 Americans, and medical costs related to this disease add up to more than $8.1 billion.
• Children are particularly sensitive to UV rays and vulnerable to sunburn and the associated increased risk of skin cancer. Up to 80 percent of an individual’s total lifetime sun exposure takes place before the age of 18 and, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, sunburns during childhood are a “clear risk factor for skin cancers later in life.”
• 90 percent of melanomas – the most dangerous type of skin cancer – are caused by exposure to UV rays, and the chance of developing melanoma doubles with as few as five sunburns over the course of one’s life. Regular use of sunscreen, however, is estimated to cut the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent.

• Short periods of exposure to sunlight without sunscreen – even as few as 15 minutes in direct sunlight – can allow UV light to irreparably damage the DNA in skin cells and put individuals at a lifelong risk for cancer.
• During the summer, the average UV index rating in New York City hovers between 6 and 7 which, according to the National Weather Service, denotes “high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.”

Summarizing research from the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Comptroller’s report details how broad spectrum, 30+ SPF sunscreen can provide necessary protection against the sun’s rays and drastically reduce the risk of skin cancer.

“Summers in our City may be hazy, but the science here is clear: sunscreen helps, and a free sunscreen program in New York City will allow families to safely enjoy New York’s great public spaces together,” Stringer said. “This is a common sense idea that will protect all New Yorkers – especially our children – from the sun’s harmful rays.”

“About 5.4 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year despite the fact that skin cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer,” said Michael Davoli, Director, New York Metro Government Relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “We applaud the Comptroller’s leadership on this issue and support this effort to encourage people to take steps to help lower their risk of this disease.”

“Boston’s sunscreen program gives residents and visitors access to free sunscreen in some of Boston’s most popular and well-used parks, and it sends a message that the city is proactive and cares about the health of its residents,” said Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley. “Our program is a great example of how partnerships can work thanks to the support of Mayor Marty Walsh, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Melanoma Foundation of New England and Make Big Change. It’s a proven success in the Hub and would be a great addition to New York’s wonderful parks and playgrounds.”

“As the sun and fun capital of the world, Miami Beach also emphasizes sun safety year-round by providing free sunscreen dispensers throughout our beaches. We are elated that New York City is pursuing a similar program to provide skin protection and awareness to the millions of people who enjoy their global destination each year,” said Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.

“Melanoma is a public health epidemic. We know that sunscreen when used appropriately reduces the risk of Basal and Squamous cell cancers. Recently we have seen studies that support that sunscreen with an SPF of 30 can significantly reduce the risk of melanoma,” said Deb Girard of the Melanoma Foundation of New England. “Providing free SPF 30 sunscreen in outdoor spaces is not only effective to reduce the costs of skin cancer, it just might save lives.”

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