Frequent exposure to outdoor artificial light in the evenings is associated with impaired blood glucose control and, consequently, an increased risk of developing diabetes, according to a new Chinese scientific study.
Researchers at the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the School of Medicine of Jiaotong University and Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, who published their findings in the journal *Diabetologia* of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), analyzed data from nearly 99,000 adults with a mean age of 43 years. For all participants, their average level of exposure to artificial nighttime light was estimated.
It was found that those who had been exposed the most were, on average, 28% more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than those who had been exposed the least. Although artificial light is not a particularly strong individual risk factor for diabetes, the researchers pointed out that its significance is not negligible at the population level, given how large a portion of the population is exposed to artificial light at night.
It is estimated that 83% of the global population and more than 99% of Americans and Europeans live in areas with light pollution, which also has implications for public health. Chinese scientists reported that the issue requires further study, as artificial light is emerging as an environmental risk factor in modern societies; nevertheless, the problem has not received sufficient attention from scientists.
Light pollution affects the biological clocks of humans and other animals, causing metabolic and other disorders, while also increasing the risk of premature death. Workers who frequently work night shifts—and are therefore more exposed to artificial light—face an increased risk of cardiovascular and other diseases, obesity, and other conditions.
