The Healthy Side of Darkness

We are about to go through a solar eclipse. It has been the headline in the news now for weeks. The opportunity to watch darkness spread across the face of the sun and the corresponding shadow on the earth is hard to ignore. This very fact has driven hundreds of people to particular areas to get the best "view" of the eclipse. It also has driven various ways of protecting the eyes from the known risk of retinal damage from the sun. But what about the risks we face incrementally every single day because of LED lighting in public and commercial areas, particularly when it is illuminated throughout all the nighttime hours of darkness?

We need to remember that throughout human history much of our health, particularly our work/sleep balance, has been tied to daylight. Since the invention of lighting, first flame, then electricity, our instinct has been to maintain daylight through artificial means further and further into the darkness of the night. Now there are so many businesses, government buildings, commercial areas, even our streets that have created a 24 hour light cycle between daylight and artificial light that 80% of North Americans cannot see the stars in the sky at night. Even small towns are now turning to overly bright LED fixtures that require much less electricity and last much longer. But the cost is one that many of us may not be able to afford. The cost of our health, our vision and our environment.

Let's begin with the fact that LEDs may be mercury free compared to fluorescent bulbs but they do still contain arsenic and lead which researchers suggest carry a higher potential for toxicity to humans, animals and the environment. However the real issue is what is known as spectral composition. LEDs in commercial settings emit a much brighter, bluer light in shorter wavelengths, into a smaller area. They also rapidly flicker on and off, a type of modulation effect. Our brains can see this and it can cause headaches, eye strain, eye fatigue and decreased overall vision ... and we might never know that it's due to the streetlights blazing in our windows in the evenings or staring us in the face on our evening walk. There has been research showing that the blue light found in LEDs can induce retinal damage, particularly in young children. This can lead to increased macular degeneration. The European Commission known as SCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks) has pointed out that there is a risk of damage to the eyes and skin from LED lights depending on several variables, including the spectrum of the LED, the intensity of the blue-band light, the duration of exposure and how someone is looking at the LED. You will notice that older street lights and even post lights tended to be on top of poles and spread the light out in a surrounding pattern. Newer LED lights are not only substantially brighter and produce more glare, but they are also highly focused on a smaller area. This makes them much more intense to look at directly.

This is all especially an issue for young children. Studies have shown that young children have a higher sensitivity to the blue light emitted from LEDs and it can be too intense for children's retinas. This may be part of the reason for more young children reaching a point in childhood of needing glasses. It may also be part of the reason for Macular degeneration and cataracts occurring in record numbers, affecting almost every single adult as they age. It's also possible that the flicker effect of LEDs combined with children's sensitivity can cause increased seizure events.

But an interesting fact is that these trends decrease substantially in places where the night sky remains dark, where starlight is visible and where people still choose to live by the normal circadian rhythms of daylight and night darkness. This also seems to be a strong factor in providing deeper sleep and better sleep habits. Among my patients I've noticed that many people living in dense towns, cities or even apartment complexes that remain lit outside throughout the night hours, experience sleep problems. Interestingly the only thing that seems to work long term in supporting normal sleep, are remedies for the pineal gland which is photo-sensitive and the control center for your day/night rhythm.

Light pollution also has a tremendous impact on the environment by affecting bat populations, sea-turtle mating, animal habits as well as limiting the habitat of nocturnal animal species who seek out true darkness and rely on it for their survival. Even plant life mutates and the variation of plant species declines in areas of LED night lighting. Recent studies have shown that light pollution contributes to millions of deaths of migratory birds every single year. It is also the reason why you no longer see fireflies. Imagine children growing up never having seen a firefly?

Here in the US the fear of criminal activity in darkness, liability issues with injury in an area that is not well lit, even individual television screens to promote advertising in commercial locations such as gas stations, have all conspired to promote monetary concerns over and above human health concerns. Cheaper is not necessarily healthier and creating large swathes of artificially lit zones has a cost that is immeasurable... our long term health.

We are losing one of our most inspiring and health-inducing elements, the darkness of the night sky. If you simply drive out into the wilderness and get out of your car, you will be reminded of the beauty and mystery of the night sky. We need to come together and begin to protect the night sky with the same vigilance that we protect clean water.

Currently there are 38 Dark Sky Communities that have made light pollution a top priority and not just because it is the easiest and cheapest to change. Simple fixes such as less intense bulbs, the installation of timers allowing for darkness to reign for at least half of the nighttime hours and opting for softer light instead of harsh white light. But especially coming to terms with the darkness of night. Realizing that light should only be used as needed, not as a fear-based liability practice.

We need to bring back the wonder of the heavens and restore our connection to it.

Karen Clickner, C.C.H., is the owner of Conscious Body Natural Medicine, Inc., in Westborough, MA. For more information visit www.consciousbodynatmed.com