Lighting and the Circadian Rhythm

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the article "Lighting for the Human Circadian Clock: Recent Research Indicates that Lighting Has Become a Public Health Issue" that reveals that certain illness rates, such as colorectal cancer and breast cancer, are much higher among nighttime shift workers than in the rest of the population. The paper explains the article's evidence that the disruption in the normal circadian rhythm of sleep-wake cycles inhibits the production of melatonin that in turn increases cancer rates. The paper discusses the implications of this research for nighttime workers and for the general public.

From the Paper:

"Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most people worked and carried on their daily life activities exclusively in the daytime and slept at night, primarily because without artificial lighting, there was no other choice. Once kerosene, gas, and incandescent lighting became widely used during the nineteenth century, people were able to make more productive use of nighttime hours, and 24-hour production became a possibility. Artificial lighting has become so common, that in modern societies, we take nighttime sporting events, all-night restaurants, and 24-hour casinos for granted. Certain industries run 'round the clock, with rotating shift workers on duty at all times."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Pauley, S. (2004) Lighting for the Human Circadian Clock: Recent Research Indicates that Lighting Has Become a Public Health Issue. Medical Hypotheses 63, 588-596.

More papers on Lighting and the Circadian Rhythm:

• Essay # 52330 : "Circadian Rhythms and Regulation of the Human Body"
• Research Paper # 110889 : "Occupational Health and Lighting"
• Essay # 59468 : "Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)"

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