- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 13,000
Following a study examining the exposure to artificial lights at night between cancer patients and controls living in Barcelona and Madrid, researchers say that blue light, which is often emitted by outdoor LEDs, smartphones, and tablets, can increase the risk of breast or prostate cancer. One theory is that blue light reduces melatonin, which acts as an antioxidant.
Exposure to blue light is known to decrease the release of melatonin in the brain, which helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm, according to Knutson. Melatonin is also known to act as an antioxidant, and adequate levels may be necessary to suppress the growth of certain hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast and prostate cancer, according to Sánchez de Miguel.
Exposure to blue light is known to decrease the release of melatonin in the brain, which helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm, according to Knutson. Melatonin is also known to act as an antioxidant, and adequate levels may be necessary to suppress the growth of certain hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast and prostate cancer, according to Sánchez de Miguel.