light: implications for human health and amenity, and its regulation

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1 light: implications for human health and amenity, and its regulation Charting the Way Foreword 43rd EHA National Conference 1 November 2018 Fremantle, Western Australia Kellie Pendoley PhD kellie.pendoley@penv.com.au 1

2 Introduction Objectives 1. What is the circadian cycle? 2. What are LED lights and why use them? 3. How does light impact human health? 4. Regulation of light pollution ASNZ Conclusions 2

night. Human cells have genetic clocks linked to these daily and annual cycles.

3 1. The circadian cycle The biological clock and calendar: Life on earth has evolved over millions of years under a; 24 hour cycle of light/dark, Annual cycle of long and short periods of day and night. Human cells have genetic clocks linked to these daily and annual cycles. It is only in the last years that humans have been able to reliably and consistently extend the hours of light. 3

4 1. The circadian cycle 4

1. The circadian cycle Melatonin is secreted as the sun sets and is important in; Promoting sleep, Antioxidant defence Metabolism regulation Circadian

5 1. The circadian cycle Melatonin is secreted as the sun sets and is important in; Promoting sleep, Antioxidant defence Metabolism regulation Circadian rhythm regulation Immune defence Reduce the progression of cancer Blood pressure regulation Cell structure Neuron formation Source: Masters et al

6 1. The circadian cycle Photoreceptors in the eye: Rods - low light, detects shades of grey only, Cones bright light, detects color, Non-image forming photoreceptors (melanoptic); triggers the circadian cycle, Stop or start the biological clock Responds to blue light Light (white/blue) suppresses melatonin secretion. 6

7 1. The circadian cycle Exposure to blue light at night; stops melatonin secretion, Prevents sleep, Keeps cortisol high. Interferes with all the other beneficial properties of melatonin, e.g. antioxidant, metabolic, circadian rhythms, immunity, cancer protection, blood pressure, cell health and neuron formation 7

8 2. LED lights What are LEDs? Light Emitting Diodes, Either a single, or multiple small glass tubes that emit light in one direction, Most LEDs are blue, The addition of chemical (Al and Ga) phosphors produces white and coloured LED lights. 8

9 2. LED lights Why LED lights? Long life, less maintenance, Cheap to operate (30%-80%), High energy efficiency (50W LED = 100W HPS), Maintain intensity, Instant switching, No mercury (toxic waste), Directional, Good colour rendering, no flickering, Cooler operation, Smart Controls dimming, timers, motion sensor, remote app control. 9

3. Light impact on human health Light between 400 500 nm (violet blue green)

10 3. Light impact on human health Light between nm (violet blue green) suppresses melatonin. No melatonin secreted = no sleep. No sleep = health impacts. 10

11 3. Light impact on human health Lights that are enriched in blue light that suppress melatonin 11

623 prostrate cancer cases, 879 male controls. International Space Station (ISS) images quantifed outdoor ALAN.

12 3. Light impact on human health Results from a recent Spanish study linking cancers to ALAN, (Ref: Garcia-Saenz et al 2018) Evaluated link between exposure to blue light a night and cancer (breast and prostrate). 1,219 breast cancer cases, 1,385 female controls. 623 prostrate cancer cases, 879 male controls. International Space Station (ISS) images quantifed outdoor ALAN. Conclusion: Both cancers were associated with high estimated exposure to outdoor ALAN in the blue-enriched light spectrum. 12

13 3. Light impact on human health Light types barriers Plates of cells Study on LED induced retinal cell death; Exposed cells to blue, green, red and white LED light Control with no light Tested different exposure times Ref: Chamorro et al

14 3. Light impact on human health DNA damage observed after three light-dark (12h/12h) cycles 14

15 3. Light impact on human health A study to evaluate evening light exposure to computer screens high and low doses of long (LWL) and short (SWL) wavelength light before sleeping, sleepiness levels the next day were statistically correlated with wavelength, Light disrupted sleep, biological rhythms, and attention abilities in students. Ref: Green et al,

16 3. Light impact on human health Exposure to even dim artificial light at night can lead to; Sleeplessness Breast and prostate cancers, Heart disease Obesity, Diabetes, Stress, and Depression 16

17 3. Light impact on human health and amenity Increasing complaints about the impact of LED lights on amenity Headlight glare (blinding) Electronic billboards (distracting) Commercial lights (disturbing) Streetlights (disturbing) Neighbours (warring) 17

18 4. Regulation Legislation and Standards Historically the objective of light regulation is to set minimum lower limits on lighting for the protection of human health, safety and security. Designers and engineers are free to add light as and where they want. None of those human HSE focussed regulations set maximum upper limits on light Exceptions in Australia are: NSW Dark Sky Planning Guidelines (2018) recognises the need to protect the dark sky - for astronomy purposes only. DR NZS/AS 4282:2018, addresses the Control of Obtrusive Lighting. 18

19 4. Regulation DRAFT ASNZ4282: broad objectives Human focus of disruptive lighting Current 1997 version is a Guidance document only, the revised 2018 Standard will specify requirements Increased the scope of the obtrusive lighting types Includes LED lights Recognises environmental zones and lighting limits in the zones Provides better information on buffer zones around buildings to stop light at a property boundary 19

20 4. Regulation DRAFT ASNZ4282: limitations Very technical, very difficult to understand. Written by engineers for engineers. Is not user friendly, council staff will require professional assistance to interpret and implement the standard. Compliance is tested by computer modelling, not by direct measurement on site Does not take a risk based approach, one size fits all. No scope for site based inspection or assessment, no wriggle room or accounting for the fluffiness of humans, uses a pass/fail approach. 20

21 5. Conclusions The global spread of ALAN is growing annually White LEDs enriched in short wavelength blue light is of most concern for human and ecological health. ALAN needs to be formally recognised as a pollutant and regulated under State and Commonwealth regulations. Management of ALAN on human health cannot be regulated by a one size fits all Standards approach. 21

22 5. Conclusions Adoption and use of AS4282 needs to be done carefully with a good understanding of the implications for councils. Should recognise the variability in impacts on human health and amenity from stressors biology is fluffy. The health and amenity impacts of ALAN should be risk assessed and managed on a case-by-case basis. Councils need to be aware that communities around the world are successfully suing their local authorities for the removal or mitigation of obtrusive LED street lights. It is only a matter of time before class action suits will be mounted to sue for light mediated health impacts. 22

23 Acknowledgements Dr Abraham Haim, University of Haifa Questions? 23

24 Charting the Way Foreword 43rd EHA National Conference November 2018 Abstract Natural Environment (300 words) Title Artificial light at night; implications for human health and amenity and current regulation The growing awareness and understanding of the impact of exposure of artificial light at night (ALAN) on human health is expected to lead to an increase in resident reporting obtrusive lighting to councils, and it is likely this compliant will end up in the lap of the EHA Officer. Guidance for the management of ALAN is restricted solely to Australian Standard AS Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting (currently undergoing revision as DR AS/NZS 4882:2018) and has been specifically written to assist local government in assessing and managing obtrusive lighting while balancing the need for illumination of night time activity with keeping the neighbours happy. This presentation will briefly address the human health impacts of exposure to ALAN, interpret the broad objectives of NZS/AS 4282:2018 and identify the limitations inherent in the standard. 24

Lighting and health Dr Paul Littlefair Building Technology Group 8 September Part of the BRE Trust

Lighting and health Dr Paul Littlefair Building Technology Group 8 September 2017 Part of the BRE Trust Lighting in the headlines Energy-efficient CFL bulbs cause skin damage, say researchers Compact fluorescent