Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of nighttime lights by LED and fluorescent lighting on human melatonin

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we used an LED (light-emitting diodes) light source to develop the the best combination of light wavelengths for nighttime lighting based on the LED advantages of narrow band and controllable spectrum.The action spectrum is based the research of Professor Brainard in the field of non-visual response model, which is used for designing circadian stimulation of LED. The CS/Lm (Circadian stimulus/Photonics lumens) values were calculated from the equations, which resulted in 8.9 × 10−4 for Fluorescent lighting (FL) of correlated color temperature (CCT) 5000 K, 5.2 × 10−4 for FL of CCT 3000 K and 4.4 × 10−4 for LED lighting of CCT 3000 K. Eight healthy males were exposed to various lighting conditions at midnight, and the physiological parameters including pupil diameter, melatonin secretion, delay of melatonin onset (DLMO), rectal temperature and subjective sleepiness were measured. Two results from the experiment were generated. Result (1) shows that LED 3000 K demonstrated the melatonin significantly increased (p < 0.05) when the light exposures of LED 3000 K, FL 3000 K and FL 5000 K reached retina with identical quantum state. Result (2) shows the melatonin onset in the 2nd night under LED 3000 K was almost the same as that under dim condition. The experimental results show that LED lighting will lead to lower interference on melatonin and DLMO than fluorescent lights, which is similar to the result of CS value. This paper provides a sound basis for designing LED spectrum concepts. By the simulation spectrum program develops, and the experiment verification. LED light source shows a high-value potential to use in our daily life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boivin DB, Duffy JF, Kronauer RE, Czeisler CA (1996) Dose-response relationships for resetting of human circadian clock by light. Nature 379(6565):540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brainard GC, Hanifin JP, Greeson JM, Byrne B, Glickman G, Gerner E, Rollag MD (2001) Action spectrum for melatonin regulation in humans: evidence for a novel circadian photoreceptor. J Neurosci 21(16):6405–6412

    Google Scholar 

  • Brainard GC, Sliney D, Hanifin JP, Glickman G, Byrne B, Greeson JM, Jasser S, Gerner E, Rollag MD (2008) Sensitivity of the human circadian system to short-wavelength (420-nm) light. J Biol Rhythms 23(5):379–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brainard GC, Hanifin JP, Warfield B, Stone MK, James ME, Ayers M, Kubey A, Byrne B, Rollag M (2015) Short-wavelength enrichment of polychromatic light enhances human melatonin suppression potency. J Pineal Res 58(3):352–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cajochen C, Münch M, Kobialka S, Kräuchi K, Steiner R, Oelhafen P, Orgül S, Wirz-Justice A (2005) High sensitivity of human melatonin, alertness, thermoregulation, and heart rate to short wavelength light. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90(3):1311–1316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy JF, Czeisler CA (2009) Effect of light on human circadian physiology. Sleep Med Clin 4(2):165–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fonken LK, Nelson RJ (2014) The effects of light at night on circadian clocks and metabolism. Endocr Rev 35(4):648–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham DM, Wong KY (2015) Melanopsin-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). In: Kolb H, Fernandez E, Nelson R (eds) The organization of the retina and visual system. University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT

  • Higuchi S, Motohashi Y, Liu Y, Ahara M, Kaneko Y (2003) Effects of VDT tasks with a bright display at night on melatonin, core temperature, heart rate, and sleepiness. J Appl Physiol 94:1773–1776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozaki T, Koga S, Toda N, Noguchi H, Yasukouchi A (2008) Effects of short wavelength control in polychromatic light sources on nocturnal melatonin secretion. Neurosci Lett 439(3):256–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewy AJ, Wehr TA, Goodwin FK, Newsome DA, Markey SP (1980) Light suppresses melatonin secretion in humans. Science 210(4475):1267–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockley SW, Brainard GC, Czeisler CA (2003) High sensitivity of the human circadian melatonin rhythm to resetting by short wavelength light. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88(9):4502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockley SW, Evans EE, Scheer FA, Brainard GC, Czeisler CA, Aeschbach D (2006) Short-wavelength sensitivity for the direct effects of light on alertness, vigilance, and the waking electroencephalogram in humans. Sleep 29(2):161–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul KN, Saafir TB, Tosini G (2009) The role of retinal photoreceptors in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 10(4):271–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman SA, Flynn-Evans EE, Aeschbach D, Brainard GC, Czeisler CA, Lockley SW (2014) Diurnal spectral sensitivity of the acute alerting effects of light. Sleep 37(2):271

    Google Scholar 

  • Rea MS, Figueiro MG, Bullough JD, Bierman A (2005) A model of phototransduction by the human circadian system. Brain Res Rev 50(2):213–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Revell VL, Arendt J, Fogg LF, Skene DJ (2006) Alerting effects of light are sensitive to very short wavelengths. Neurosci Lett 399(1):96–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert EF, Kim JK (2005) Solid-state light sources getting smart. Science 308(5726):1274–1278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandewalle G, Collignon O, Hull JT, Daneault V, Albouy G, Lepore F, Lockley SW (2013) Blue light stimulates cognitive brain activity in visually blind individuals. J Cogn Neurosci 25(12):2072–2085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vimal RL, Pandey-Vimal MUC, Vimal LSP, Frederick BB, Stopa EG, Renshaw PF, Harper DG (2009) Activation of suprachiasmatic nuclei and primary visual cortex depends upon time of day. Eur J Neurosci 29(2):399–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West KE, Jablonski MR, Warfield B, Cecil KS, James M, Ayers MA, Maida J, Bowen C, Sliney DH, Rollag MD, Hanifin JP, Brainard GC (2011) Blue light from light-emitting diodes elicits a dose-dependent suppression of melatonin in humans. J Appl Physiol 110(3):619–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasukouchi A, Ishibashi K (2005) Non-visual effects of the color temperature of fluorescent lamps on physiological aspects in humans. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Hum Sci 24(1):41–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeitzer JM, Dijk DJ, Kronauer R, Brown E, Czeisler C (2000) Sensitivity of the human circadian pacemaker to nocturnal light: melatonin phase resetting and suppression. J Physiol 526(3):695–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, Taiwan) under LED Ergonomic Lighting Project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli City, Taoyuan County, 32001, Taiwan

    Chien-Chun Lu & Cheng-Yi Liu

  2. Industrial Technology Research Institute, 195, Sec. 4, Chung Hsing Rd., Chutung, Hsinchu, 31040, Taiwan

    Chien-Chun Lu

  3. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Yuan Ze University, 135 Yuan-Tung Road, Chung-Li, 32003, Taiwan

    Chinmei Chou

  4. Department of Physiological Anthropology, Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, 4-9-1 Shiobaru, Minamiku, Fukuoka, 815-8540, Japan

    Akira Yasukouchi & Tomoaki Kozaki

Authors
  1. Chien-Chun Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chinmei Chou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Akira Yasukouchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tomoaki Kozaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cheng-Yi Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chinmei Chou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lu, CC., Chou, C., Yasukouchi, A. et al. Effects of nighttime lights by LED and fluorescent lighting on human melatonin. J Ambient Intell Human Comput 7, 837–844 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-016-0383-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-016-0383-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation