High sensitivity and interindividual variability in response of human circadian system to evening light (melatonin relevant), 2019, Phillips et al.

High sensitivity and interindividual variability in the response of the human circadian system to evening light

Andrew J. K. Phillips, Parisa Vidafar, Angus C. Burns, Elise M. McGlashan, Clare Anderson, Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam, Steven W. Lockley, and Sean W. Cain

Significance

Electric lighting has fundamentally altered how the human circadian clock synchronizes to the day/night cycle. Exposure to light after dusk is pervasive in the modern world. We examined group-level sensitivity of the circadian system to evening light and the degree to which sensitivity varies between individuals. We found that, on average, humans are highly sensitive to evening light. Specifically, 50% suppression of melatonin occurred at <30 lux, which is comparable to or lower than typical indoor lighting used at night, as well as light produced by electronic devices. Significantly, there was a >50-fold difference in sensitivity to evening light across individuals. Interindividual differences in light sensitivity may explain differential vulnerability to circadian disruption and subsequent impact on human health.

https://www.pnas.org/content/116/24/12019

 

Straddling being on- and off-topic but everyone here know about redshift and similar apps that gradually lowers the blue light component from your computer display? Highly recommend. It's now installed by default on most tablets and mobiles and it's easy to find for most OSes.