Cancer link to blue light exposure

Exposure to the blue light emitted from modern street lighting can lead to an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer, according to researchers.

Scientists used nighttime images taken by astronauts on the International Space Station in order to evaluate outdoor levels of artificial light and compared that to health data from 4,000 people aged between 20 and 85.

The researchers, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and involving the University of Exeter, found the bluer the light emission that people in large cities were exposed to, the higher the risk of cancer.

Researchers hypothesise that LED lights may disrupt the body’s 24hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm which in turn affects hormones.