impact of light on health and welfare

           When you really take time to consider all the ways light affects our daily lives, it is hard to count just how many. Everyone has experienced waking up on a cloudy day, and feeling gloomy and tired, in the same way that a warm and sunny day with big puffy clouds makes us feel happy, awake, and relaxed. A lot of the time, however, we tend to take our exposure and connection to light for granted, as it is almost always present in some way, the same way we don’t notice how many times we blink each day.
           The truth is, without light, there would be no life. According to the article, Influence of Architectural Lighting on Health by Eve Edelstein, the term chronobiology has been coined to describe “The influence of light exposure on human physical and mental health, as well as behavior and performance.” Much like a plant cannot flourish without a daily dose of natural light, research shows that humans too need substantial exposure to natural circadian rhythms of sunlight and darkness. Edelstein writes that “Disruption of exposure to normal circadian light patterns for significant periods of time may lead to negative health effects... [such as] Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).” SAD is a “mood disorder” in which people experience some form of depression when the seasons change, possibly causing them to sleep too much or have little energy.
           However, overexposure is just as bad as the opposite. We all know by now that too much sunlight and exposure to ultraviolet rays can be detrimental to one’s health, cancer being the main predator. But now, according to a Washington Post article, Lights at Night Are Linked to Breast Cancer by Rick Wiess, “...too much light at night can raise the risk of breast cancer by interfering with the brain’s production of a tumor-supressing hormorne.” And going back to Edelstein’s article, “studies of night-shift factory works and flight crew have also revealed increased cancer rates.” Also, according to an article in the New York Times, The Claim: Daylight Saving Time Can Affect Your Health by Anahad O’Connor, when we change the clock backwards or forwards by one hour, it leaves your body’s “internal clock” unadjusted with it. “Studies suggest that this disconnect between body time and clock time can result in restlessness, sleep disruption and shorter sleep duration.”
           The overarching idea in each of these articles is that humans need a healthy balance of natural sunlight, darkness, and “artificial” light. On another note, while the weather and light quality of each day affects our mood, it is also important to consider that artificial light, when utilized and presented in a pleasing way, can also create certain feelings or moods.
           Lighting is a major programming entity in the design of interior spaces. Connection and exposure to the outside world (fresh air and natural light) is essential for a healthy lifestyle, and therefore, it becomes the designer’s job to create interior spaces that effectively provide access to these essentials. Depending on other programming items for each particular space, a designer must work to find the best way to use light to enhance the quality, experience of the space. As Edelstein addresses, “Research on the influence of light on health and behavior may be translated to guiding principles that inform changes in architectural and lighting solutions in bulit environments.”
           Essentially, it is up to the designer to create balance of light and adequate exposure to all types based on physical need, health, and aesthetics. The design of a space should also be centered around the needs and best interests of those who will be living in and using the particular space the most. As in the case of the night-shift workers, maybe they need a place to escape the artificial light, or plenty of variation in the intensity and type of lighting provided, as sunlight is not available.
           Over all, the balance of different types of lighting, as well as darkness, should never be overlooked in design, and it’s benefits as well as setbacks should always be considered objectively. Light is just as much a part of a space’s program as entrances or exits. When it really comes down to it, without light, would our universe even exist?

sources:
Edelstein, Eve. "Influence of Architectural Lighting on Health." Implications 7(2005): Print.
Anahad, O'Connor. "The Claim: Daylight Saving Time Can Affect Your Health." The New York Times (2009): Print.
Weiss, Rick. "Lights at Night Are Linked to Breast Cancer." The Washington Post (2009): Print.