On Monday the Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie signed into law a legislation placing a tanning bed ban on minors.

The law states that anyone under the age of 17 cannot enter a tanning bed. The law also bans children 14 and under from having a spray tan applications. However a 17-year-old may enter a tanning bed or have a spray tan if they have parental consent.

The tanning bed ban for New Jersey is blamed on Patricia Krentcil also known as the "Tanning mom." Krentcil was featured in almost every headline last year after she was accused of bringing her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning bed.

Patricia Krentcil was brought up on child endangerment charges last year after her daughter's teacher noticed burns on the girl's leg. Krentcil, whose skin tone can only be described as chocolate KISS brown said the burns, came from the sun not a tanning bed. There was not enough evidence to prove child endangerment and the case against the "tanning mom" was dropped.

Governor Christie says that tanning bed ban is based on a concern for the health of minors. Studies have been published suggesting those who tan artificially, whether minors or adults are at a greater risk for skin cancer than those who do not.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) published a study that concludes, "In a highly exposed population, frequent indoor tanning increased melanoma risk, regardless of age when indoor tanning began."

The study states between 1997 and 2006 the number of reported cases of melanoma rose 2.2% among Caucasian men and women. Melanoma is the number one fastest increasing cancer among Caucasian men and the second among Caucasian women.

The study says, "In 2009, the IARC classified tanning devices as carcinogenic to humans. The IARC report may have little effect on indoor tanning use in the United States, in part, because the industry has used limitations of the studies reviewed by the IARC and hypotheses regarding potential health benefits, such as vitamin D, to counter possible health concerns."

In the past tanning beds had only been loosely associated with skin cancer. There have been 29 reports to date of tanning bed related melanoma.

The study conducted by the AACR administered questionnaires and phone interviews to determine how many people there were living in Minnesota with Melanoma. The scientists conducting the study then narrowed down the list of cancer patients to only those who have admitted to the use of tanning beds.

The study concluded that frequent indoor tanning increased the risk of melanoma: "Melanoma risk was pronounced among users of UVB-enhanced and primarily UVA-emitting devices. Risk increased with use: among indoor tanners, years used was more relevant for melanoma development."

The New Jersey tanning bed ban will not effect adults over the age of 17. The ban does apply a limiting factor on minors similar to the same limits set by the driving age and the drinking age. Once minor residents of New Jersey reach the legal age they may use tanning beds at their own risk.