Around the world, there are over 4 billion artificial light sources. This includes light bulbs, LED lights, and other sources of artificial light. While these are all essential for our daily lives, they also come with some side effects.

For example, recent research has shown that artificial light exposure could increase the risk of cancer.

What is Artificial Light?

Artificial light is any light source that is not natural. This can include light bulbs, fluorescent lights, LED lights, and other electrical sources of light. This type of light is most commonly used indoors, where natural light is not always available.

How Does Artificial Light Affect Our Bodies?

Artificial light has been shown to affect our circadian rhythm, the natural 24-hour cycle that regulates our sleep-wake cycle and other essential bodily processes.

When our circadian rhythm is disrupted, it can lead to a slew of health problems, including:.

Insomnia
Depression
Diabetes
Obesity
Heart disease

Recent research has also shown that artificial light exposure could increase the risk of cancer.

Studies have found that exposure to artificial light at night can interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates our natural sleep-wake cycle and has been shown to suppress the growth of various types of cancer cells.

The Connection Between Artificial Light and Cancer

Recent research has shown that exposure to artificial light at night could increase the risk of several types of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.

Studies have found that exposure to even low levels of artificial light at night could suppress the production of melatonin, which could increase the risk of cancer.

One study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that exposure to artificial light at night could increase the risk of breast cancer in women by up to 22 percent.

Another study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that exposure to outdoor artificial light at night could increase the risk of prostate cancer in men.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer From Artificial Light

While it’s impossible to completely avoid exposure to artificial light, there are some practical steps you can take to reduce your risk of cancer:.

Use blue-light-blocking glasses
Use warm-colored, low-wattage light bulbs at night
Install blackout curtains to block out outdoor artificial light
Avoid using electronic devices before bed
Avoid bright lights in the bedroom
Get plenty of natural light during the day
Take breaks from screens and artificial light sources throughout the day

Conclusion

Artificial light is an essential part of our modern lives, but it also comes with some risks. Recent research has shown that exposure to artificial light at night could increase the risk of several types of cancer.

By taking simple steps to reduce our exposure to artificial light, we can reduce our risk of cancer and other health problems.