Reducing nighttime light exposure in the urban environment to benefit human health and society

Zielinska-Dabkowska, K. M.; Schernhammer, E. S.; Hanifin, J. P.; Brainard, G. C.

doi:10.1126/science.adg5277

Reducing nighttime light exposure in the urban environment to benefit human health and society

Journal Article · 16 June 2023 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg5277· OSTI ID:2418019

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GUT LightLab Department of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.; OSTI
Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria.; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.

Nocturnal light pollution can have profound effects on humans and other organisms. Recent research indicates that nighttime outdoor lighting is increasing rapidly. Evidence from controlled laboratory studies demonstrates that nocturnal light exposure can strain the visual system, disrupt circadian physiology, suppress melatonin secretion, and impair sleep. There is a growing body of work pointing to adverse effects of outdoor lighting on human health, including the risk of chronic diseases, but this knowledge is in a more nascent stage. In this Review, we synthesize recent research on the context-specific factors and physiology relevant to nocturnal light exposure in relation to human health and society, identify critical areas for future research, and highlight recent policy steps and recommendations for mitigating light pollution in the urban environment.

Research Organization:: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

DOE Contract Number:: EE0008207; EE0009689

OSTI ID:: 2418019

Journal Information:: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6650 Vol. 380; ISSN 0036-8075

Publisher:: AAAS

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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