Light at night disrupts biological clocks, calendars, and immune function
Summary:
The paper discusses how artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts biological clocks and immune function, affecting circadian rhythms and melatonin secretion, and leading to potential health issues.
Categories
- Immune system function and health: The paper discusses how ALAN disrupts immune function, affecting both the innate and adaptive immune systems in various species.
- Lighting Design Considerations: The paper highlights the pervasive issue of light pollution and the increase in artificially lit outdoor areas, which contribute to the disruption of biological clocks and immune function.
- Hormone regulation: The paper discusses how ALAN alters the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness, and is critical for immune function.
- Shift work: The paper mentions the increase in prevalence of night shift work and smart device usage as contributing factors to the exposure to ALAN, which disrupts circadian rhythms and immune function.
Author(s)
WH Walker, JR Bumgarner, DD Becker-Krail
Publication Year:
2022
Number of Citations:
29
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Hormone regulation
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