Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Chandra — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:31:36 GMT

I had a question about this article, and maybe someone can help me with this. I don't use flourescent lighting in most of my lamps, but I just use the regular light bulbs like you can get at Walmart or the drugstore. Are these regular light bulbs causing danger to me and my family? We all sleep in total darkness, so that is not the issue, I am just wondering if these lights are affecting us in the daytime hours?

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Chandra — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:30:59 GMT

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

hypoxic — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:48:20 GMT

I wonder what hope there is for night shift workers. Since it is obviously dangerous to your health (like second hand smoking) perhaps night shift should be outlawed just like smoking in public places.

I am a sleep study technician. I guess I am destined to die of cancer.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Annetta7424 — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:08:12 GMT

Would a completely opaque sleep mask be as effective as blackout drapes? I know that without the mask I wake up a lot more often in the night. With it, I sleep like the dead.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Dr Rik — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:56:57 GMT

I raised my family in Oregon, 46 degrees North. "Cabin fever" was an issue. I replaced the 8 foot flourescent bulbs in my shop with the full spectrum version (much more expensive) and installed a double 8 foot flourescent with full spectrum bulbs in the living room right over where the children played. They loved it, very bright and could actually color the skin just a teeny bit. At bedtime, it was lights out and no problem.
Now I live a bit further south, so I favor daylight.
Dr. Rik Cederstrom D.C.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Sunman — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 06:07:54 GMT

In my review of the relevant literature, it is primarily of two types: observational studies and animal studies. The human observational studies have not carefully considered alternate hypotheses to explain why shift workers have more cancer, such as eating junk food from the canteen or not getting enough vitamin D from solar UVB. It seems to me that if night light exposure were an important cancer risk factor, there would be geographic variations in cancer that could be linked to such things as the amount of sunlight. For example, the more solar UVB, the less cancer for about 20 types of cancer, and vitamin D has been confirmed as a risk reduction factor for breast and colon cancer in a dose-response manner. I don't doubt that melatonin has anti-cancer properties, but I don't think that the evidence is strong that it has an impact at the population level.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

garyt1992 — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 20:07:14 GMT

I know there are many activities in modern life that exhibit health damaging actions to the body. In reading this letter I noticed the mention of the hormone Melatonin I recently read a letter from Centerpointe about the use of binaural brain entrainment with the Holosync technique with some infrasonic frequencies in the Theta frequency range that caused increased secretion of the hormones DHEA and Melatonin and simultaneous decreases in the Cortisol which the article says is an aging hormone. So if this is true being that it is very difficult to get around some night light, Maybe Audio brain entrainment meditation or just meditation itself is the answer to some of the questions, Its kind of like if you break an arm are you going to get it set to start the healing or just let it hang until gangreen sets in and you die from blood poisoning. Its good to know about these things much more difficult to live the perfect lifestyle that existed when the animal or human body came into existence. Remember the four most adaptable creatures on the planet are the cockroach, the Rat, the Crow and the Human being.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

bull moose — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:44:55 GMT

I'm not sure I agree with this theory. If it were true, then it seems like the Alaska Natives would have been extinct a long time ago. In the far North of Alaska the sun doesn't rise for approximately 3 months in the winter and doesn't set for approxiamtely 3 months in the summer. They're not too concerned about room darkening shades. And as another reader mentions, the bright moon and starts are also a source. What about employees who work the midnight shift? My dad worked mids for 25 years and lived to be 91. This one's a little to far out for me buy.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Dr-Yoga — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:34:25 GMT

A lot of things factor into sleep and melatonin release. This is definitely an important one.

I have also noticed a difference in the nature of my sleep when I work at the computer all evening (therefore with light beaming into my eyes even after dark) and those rare occasions when I am sitting around in a more dimly lit interior.

However, I live out in the country where there are no electric lights shining through the windows. I love lying in bed and looking out at the bright moonlight.and the silhouettes of the trees. When there is a full moon, the light is sometimes so bright that I have to check the clock to see if it is morning. This natural light never seems to bother me like a light left on in the hallway or bathroom (or even an electric clock LCD). Is this more likely to be a result of different frequencies, or just my pleasant, romantic associations with moonlight and starlight?

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

sukilona — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:53:52 GMT

Is there a higher incidence of cancer in those who live in the most northern regions where there is much more sunlight at certain times of the year and then having to make "artificial" light the other part of the year due to the Earth's rotation?

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

harold jitschak bueno de mesquita — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:18:13 GMT

Very impressive! But I have a strong feeling that this can't be true for moon light [will be difficult to examine now a days, I suppose]

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Bassam Saadeh - Lebanon — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:56:43 GMT

I totally agree with what is said. We have been created to sleep at sunset and in total darkness. Newborn have no problem to sleep in total darkness (they did it for 9 months). We are afraid instead of them. We are transmitting this fear into their life and habits. We are starting to "ruin" their health. Please let us stop this.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

Dennis H. — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:00:39 GMT

Dr. Mercola...I have been a patient of yours for preventative and nutritional medicine for over a decade now and appreciate your insights. I do however often have questions that come up as a result of seeing your latest findings. I have been trying to reduce the amount of light in my home by eliminating night lights or other things, but even the air purifier that I purchased from your website gives off a lot of light. How can I run the Way Healthier Home Air Purifier and still have it dark when it gives off such a huge amount of light? Dennis H.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

S C Jain — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:48:04 GMT

The ill effects of ELF electromagnetic radiations are well known, Do these radiations also contribute to incresed cancer probablity. I understand every home has lot of electric wiring apart from TV, Mobile phones etc. These EMF can also contribute to incidence of cancer.

re: Experts Finally Recognize the Link Between Night Light Exposure and Cancer

enzo — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:18:07 GMT

Night light exposure a possible cancer risk enhancer?

I'd be curious to know if blind persons are equally affected as sighted persons. Are these "bad carcinogenic vibes" picked up by the optic nerve, or is this phenomenon trans-dermal in nature? Just a thought.