Mapping the Melatonin Suppression, Star Light and Induced Photosynthesis Indices with the LANcube

Increased exposure to artificial light at night can affect human health including disruption of melatonin production and circadian rhythms which can extend to increased risks of hormonal cancers and other serious diseases. In addition, multiple negative impacts on fauna and flora are well documented, and it is a matter of fact that artificial light at night is a nuisance for ground-based astronomy. These impacts are frequently linked to the colour of the light or more specifically to its spectral content. Artificial light at night is often mapped by using spaceborne sensors, but most of them are panchromatic and thus insensitive to the colour. In this paper, we suggest a method that allows high-resolution mapping of the artificial light at night by using ground-based measurements with the LANcube system. The newly developed device separates the light detected in four bands (Red, Green, Blue and Clear) and provides this information for six faces of a cube. We found relationships between the LANcube’s colour ratios and (1) the Melatonin Suppression Index, (2) the StarLight Index and (3) the Induced Photosynthesis Index. We show how such relationships combined with data acquisition from a LANcube positioned on the top of a car can be used to produce spectral indices maps of a whole city in a few hours.

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Mapping the Melatonin Suppression, Star Light and Induced Photosynthesis Indices with the LANcube

10.20944/preprints202011.0347.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Aubé ◽

Charles Marseille ◽

Ammar Farkouh ◽

Adam Dufour ◽

Alexandre Simoneau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Artificial Light ◽

Spectral Indices ◽

Light At Night ◽

Spectral Content ◽

Melatonin Suppression ◽

High Resolution Mapping ◽

Resolution Mapping ◽

Index 2 ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Melatonin Production

Increased exposure to artificial light at night can affect human health including disruption of melatonin production and circadian rhythms and extend to increased risks of hormonal cancers and other serious diseases. In addition, multiple negative impacts on fauna and flora are well documented, and it is a matter of fact that artificial light at night is a nuisance for ground-based astronomy. These impacts are frequently linked to the colour of the light or more specifically to its spectral content. Artificial light at night is often mapped by using space borne sensors, but most of them are panchromatic and thus insensitive to the colour. In this paper, we suggest a method that allows high resolution mapping of the Artificial light at night by using ground-based measurements with the LANcube system. The device separates the light detected in four bands (Red, Green, Blue, and Clear) and provides this information for six faces of a cube. We found relationships between the LANcube’s colour ratios and 1- the Melatonin Suppression Index, 2- the StarLight Index and 3- the Induced Photosynthesis Index. We show how such relationships combined with data acquisition from a LANcube positioned on the top of a car can be used to produce spectral indices maps of a whole city in a few hours.

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Artificial Light at Night of Different Spectral Compositions Differentially Affects Tumor Growth in Mice: Interaction With Melatonin and Epigenetic Pathways

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/1073274818812908 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 107327481881290 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A. E. Zubidat ◽

B. Fares ◽

F. Fares ◽

A. Haim

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Dna Methylation ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Short Wavelength ◽

Global Dna Methylation ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Dna Hypomethylation ◽

Light At Night ◽

Cancer Burden ◽

Melatonin Suppression

Lighting technology is rapidly advancing toward shorter wavelength illuminations that offer energy-efficient properties. Along with this advantage, the increased use of such illuminations also poses some health challenges, particularly breast cancer progression. Here, we evaluated the effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) of 4 different spectral compositions (500-595 nm) at 350 Lux on melatonin suppression by measuring its urine metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, global DNA methylation, tumor growth, metastases formation, and urinary corticosterone levels in 4T1 breast cancer cell-inoculated female BALB/c mice. The results revealed an inverse dose-dependent relationship between wavelength and melatonin suppression. Short wavelength increased tumor growth, promoted lung metastases formation, and advanced DNA hypomethylation, while long wavelength lessened these effects. Melatonin treatment counteracted these effects and resulted in reduced cancer burden. The wavelength suppression threshold for melatonin-induced tumor growth was 500 nm. These results suggest that short wavelength increases cancer burden by inducing aberrant DNA methylation mediated by the suppression of melatonin. Additionally, melatonin suppression and global DNA methylation are suggested as promising biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapy of breast cancer. Finally, ALAN may manifest other physiological responses such as stress responses that may challenge the survival fitness of the animal under natural environments.

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Impact of Dim Light at Night on Urinary 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin Concentrations and Sleep in Healthy Humans

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21207736 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (20) ◽

pp. 7736

Author(s):

Katarina Stebelova ◽

Jan Roska ◽

Michal Zeman

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Real Life ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Health It ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Light At Night ◽

Healthy Humans ◽

Home Based ◽

Fragmentation Index ◽

Melatonin Production

Artificial light at night can have negative effects on human wellbeing and health. It can disrupt circadian rhythms, interfere with sleep, and participate in the progress of civilisation diseases. The aim of the present study was to explore if dim artificial light during the entire night (ALAN) can affect melatonin production and sleep quality in young volunteers. We performed two experiments in real-life home-based conditions. Young volunteers (n = 33) were exposed to four nights of one lux ALAN or two nights of five lux ALAN. Melatonin production, based on 6-sulphatoxymelatonin/creatinine concentrations in urine, and sleep quality, based on actimetry, were evaluated. Exposure to ALAN one lux during the entire night did not suppress aMT6s/creatinine concentrations but did aggravate sleep quality by increasing sleep fragmentation and one-minute immobility. ALAN up to five lux reduced melatonin biosynthesis significantly and interfered with sleep quality, as evidenced by an increased percentage of one-minute immobility and a tendency of increased fragmentation index. Our results show that people are more sensitive to low illuminance during the entire night, as previously expected. ALAN can interfere with melatonin production and sleep quality in young, healthy individuals, and both processes have different sensitivities to light.

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The effects of artificial light at night on Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus): Behavioral rhythm disruption, melatonin suppression and intestinal microbiota alterations

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105702 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 108 ◽

pp. 105702 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Junxia Jiang ◽

Yu He ◽

Honghong Kou ◽

Zongqi Ju ◽

Xuebin Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Light At Night ◽

Tree Sparrow ◽

Passer Montanus ◽

Melatonin Suppression ◽

Behavioral Rhythm ◽

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

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Artificial light at night increases growth and reproductive output in Anolis lizards

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2019.1682 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 287 (1919) ◽

pp. 20191682 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christopher J. Thawley ◽

Jason J. Kolbe

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Output ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Endocrine Function ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Light At Night ◽

Brown Anole ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Growth And Reproduction

Since the invention of electric lighting, artificial light at night (ALAN) has become a defining, and evolutionary novel, feature of human-altered environments especially in cities. ALAN imposes negative impacts on many organisms, including disrupting endocrine function, metabolism, and reproduction. However, we do not know how generalized these impacts are across taxa that exploit urban environments. We exposed brown anole lizards, an abundant and invasive urban exploiter, to relevant levels of ALAN in the laboratory and assessed effects on growth and reproduction at the start of the breeding season. Male and female anoles exposed to ALAN increased growth and did not suffer increased levels of corticosterone. ALAN exposure induced earlier egg-laying, likely by mimicking a longer photoperiod, and increased reproductive output without reducing offspring quality. These increases in growth and reproduction should increase fitness. Anoles, and potentially other taxa, may be resistant to some negative effects of ALAN and able to take advantage of the novel niche space ALAN creates. ALAN and both its negative and positive impacts may play a crucial role in determining which species invade and exploit urban environments.

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