Human Health

“Many species (including humans) need darkness to survive and thrive.” — American Medical Association Council on Science and Public Health (2012)

Exposure to Artificial Light at Night Can Harm Your Health

Humans evolved to the rhythms of the natural light-dark cycle of day and night. The spread of artificial lighting means most of us no longer experience truly dark nights.

Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer and more.

Circadian Rhythm and Melatonin

Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to a circadian rhythm — our biological clock — a sleep-wake pattern governed by the day-night cycle. Artificial light at night can disrupt that cycle.

Our bodies produce the hormone melatonin in response to circadian rhythm. Melatonin helps keep us healthy. It has antioxidant properties, induces sleep, boosts the immune system, lowers cholesterol, and helps the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes and adrenal glands. Nighttime exposure to artificial light suppresses melatonin production.

Not All Artificial Light Is Created Equally

Exposure to blue light at night is particularly harmful. Unfortunately,most LEDs used for outdoor lighting — as well as computer screens, TVs, and other electronic displays — create abundant blue light.

According to experts at Harvard Medical School, “If blue light does have adverse health effects, then environmental concerns, and the quest for energy-efficient lighting, could be at odds with personal health. Those curlicue compact fluorescent lightbulbs and LED lights are much more energy-efficient than the old-fashioned incandescent lightbulbs we grew up with. But they also tend to produce more blue light.”

A 2016 American Medical Association report expressed concern about exposure to blue light from outdoor lighting and recommends shielding all light fixtures and only using lighting with 3000K color temperature and below.

To minimize harm from blue light in your home, choose the right light bulb and download a color temperature app that adapts your electronic screen to the time of day – cool light during the day and warm light at night.

Color Temperature Apps:

• F.lux is available for Mac OS/X, Windows, Linx and (jailbroken) iPhones and iPads.
• For those with Apple devices using the iOS 9.3 operating system and above, the Night Shift app is pre-installed. Click here to learn how to use it.
• Lux is available for Android devices free or for pay.
• Twilight is available for smartphones or tablets.

Choosing the Right Bulb

Kelvin Temperature Scale

Higher color temperatures mean bluer light, the kind that should be avoided after dusk.

Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kelvin_Temperature_Chart.svg

Read the IDA’s Seeing Blue Report to learn more.

Glare from Bad Lighting is a Safety Hazard

Glare from poorly shielded outdoor lighting is also harmful to your health, because it decreases vision by reducing contrast. This limits our ability to see potential dangers at night. Aging eyes are especially affected.

“Glare from nighttime lighting can create hazards ranging from discomfort to frank disability.” — American Medical Association Council on Science and Public Health (2012)

Protect your community from Light Pollution!

The Comal County Friends of the Night Sky was formed in March, 2020 by a group of concerned residents who first met using Zoom. We are working on several initiatives to facilitate night sky friendly lighting in order to preserve and improve the stunning night sky of the Texas Hill Country and Comal County, TX.