PNNL

Abstract

There is a prima facie reason for studying possible biological effects of light-at-night (LAN) in the laboratory and human health effects in the population at large: LAN from the use of electricity represent exposures in the human environment not previously encountered in human evolution. These LAN exposures are pervasive in industrialized societies, and any adverse health effects from them could result in considerable consequences for the population. In particular, exposures of pregnant women to LAN that might result in increased estrogen exposure in utero to their child may lead to increased tissue mass and increased lifetime risk of breast cancer of the child.