Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer and more.
Humans evolved to the rhythms of the natural light/dark cycle of day and night. The proliferation of artificial light at night means most of us no longer experience truly dark nights.
Many studies have shown that exposure to artificial light at night negatively affects human health, including increased risk for:
Sleep disorders
Depression
Obesity
Diabetes
Heart disease
Cancer
According to the American Medical Association, “It is estimated that white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps. Recent large surveys found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and obesity.”