Light Pollution and how it's destroying your health.
- A THREAD -
- A THREAD -
Incandescent light bulbs were introduced in the late 1800s and since the world has become awash in bright lights.
Artificial light has become a staple of our everyday living, including lamps that light up every street and city skyline, all the way to constant cell phone use.
Artificial light has become a staple of our everyday living, including lamps that light up every street and city skyline, all the way to constant cell phone use.
In 1994 an earthquake temporarily knocked out the power in Los Angeles. Residents reportedly called local emergency centers to report seeing a strange “giant, silvery cloud” in the dark sky.
For the first time – they were in fact seeing the Milky Way.
For the first time – they were in fact seeing the Milky Way.
But what does this have to do with your health?
Well, increased artificial light exposure has been linked with circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, where the circadian rhythm is misaligned with the natural light-dark cycle.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Well, increased artificial light exposure has been linked with circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, where the circadian rhythm is misaligned with the natural light-dark cycle.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
If you are unfamiliar with the term Circadian Rhythm, it's essentially your body’s biological clock.
This clock is observed across bird, reptile, and mammal species and is key for dictating info on daily/seasonal behavior patterns such as hibernation, eating, and breeding.
This clock is observed across bird, reptile, and mammal species and is key for dictating info on daily/seasonal behavior patterns such as hibernation, eating, and breeding.
Your CR is responsible for processes including brain wave patterns, hormone production, cell regulation, and other biologic activities.
Studies show that the circadian cycle controls 10-15% of our genes.
Studies show that the circadian cycle controls 10-15% of our genes.
Exposure to artificial light disrupts our internal clock regulation and has been linked to:
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Immunity/Stress Response
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Immunity/Stress Response
Lack of melatonin and the disruption of healthy sleeping patterns is being increasingly linked to malignant cancers.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Sleep pattern disruption is thought to interfere with cancer suppression genes, leading to an increased risk of breast, prostate, gastric, and lung cancers.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Correlation with Breast Cancer
A study team used satellite images to gauge the level of nighttime artificial light in 147 communities in Israel, then overlaid the photos with a map detailing the distribution of breast cancer cases.
A study team used satellite images to gauge the level of nighttime artificial light in 147 communities in Israel, then overlaid the photos with a map detailing the distribution of breast cancer cases.
A statistically significant correlation between outdoor artificial light at night and breast cancer, even when controlling for variables.
Women living in neighborhoods where it was bright enough to read a book outside at midnight had a 73% higher risk of developing breast cancer
Women living in neighborhoods where it was bright enough to read a book outside at midnight had a 73% higher risk of developing breast cancer
Why?
Melatonin triggers a host of biological activities, possibly including a nocturnal reduction in the body’s production of estrogen.
The body produces melatonin at night, and melatonin levels drop precipitously in the presence of artificial or natural light.
Melatonin triggers a host of biological activities, possibly including a nocturnal reduction in the body’s production of estrogen.
The body produces melatonin at night, and melatonin levels drop precipitously in the presence of artificial or natural light.
Are all artificial lights inherently bad? Certainly not.
But when considering the broader scope of our own ancestral evolution and our deeply engrained neural circuits, it's no surprise that disease and dysfunction have emerged from our unnatural exposure.
But when considering the broader scope of our own ancestral evolution and our deeply engrained neural circuits, it's no surprise that disease and dysfunction have emerged from our unnatural exposure.
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