Lanterns can increase the risk of CANCER: People who live near artificial neon lights are up to 55% more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the study warns.
- The researchers looked for cases of cancer in a survey of adults aged 50 to 71 years
- They then examined nighttime light pollution levels near the volunteer residence
- There was a noticeable increase in thyroid cancer incidents in low light areas
- The equipment could have to do with lower melatonin levels as a result of light
Living in an area with high levels of artificial light outdoors can increase your chances of developing thyroid cancer, with neon lights increasing the risk by 55%, the study shows.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center looked for a link between people who develop thyroid cancer and outside artificial light levels.
They examined data from a cohort of 464,371 participants followed for approximately 13 years as part of the NIH-AARP diet and health study; then they analyzed satellite images to estimate light levels in the areas where the people participating in the study lived.
They found that those in areas with a higher level of nocturnal light pollution had a 55% higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than those in low-light areas.
They believe that one of the reasons for the link is that light at night suppresses melatonin, a modulator of estrogen activity, which can have an antitumor effect.
Living in an area with high levels of artificial light outdoors can increase the chances of developing thyroid cancer, with neon lights increasing the risk by 55%, according to the study.
Over the past century, night landscapes, especially in cities, have changed drastically due to the rapid growth of electric light, the study authors said.
Studies have also reported an association between higher levels of night light measured by satellite and a higher risk of breast cancer.
Because some breast cancers may share a common link with thyroid cancer, lead author Qian Xiao and colleagues decided to look for an association between night light and the later development of thyroid cancer.
They used the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, with data on hundreds of thousands of people aged 50 to 71, recorded in 1995 and 1996.
Xiao then examined satellite images of each of his homes to determine if those living in low-light areas were more likely to develop thyroid cancer.
The team then examined state cancer registry databases to identify thyroid cancer diagnoses up to 2011 and found 856 cases among the 464,371 volunteers.
“Compared to the lowest light quintile at night, the highest quintile was associated with a 55% higher risk of developing thyroid cancer,” Xiao said.
“The association was driven primarily by the most common form of thyroid cancer, called papillary thyroid cancer, and was stronger in women than in men,” she found.
In women, the association was stronger for localized cancer, with no signs of spreading to other parts of the body, while in men the association was stronger for more advanced stages of cancer, according to the team.
The association appeared similar for different tumor sizes and between participants with different demographic characteristics and body mass index.
The researchers noted that additional studies are needed to confirm their results.
If confirmed, it will be important to understand the mechanisms underlying the relationship between night light and thyroid cancer, Xiao said.
The scientists noted that night light suppresses melatonin, a modulator of estrogen activity that can have important antitumor effects.
In addition, night light can cause disruption of the body’s internal clock (or circadian rhythms), which is a risk factor for various types of cancer.
They found that those in areas with a higher level of nocturnal light pollution had a 55% higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than those in low-light areas.
“As an observational study, our study is not designed to establish causality,” Xiao said, adding that “we don’t know if higher levels of outside light at night carry a high risk of thyroid cancer.”
“However, given the well-established evidence supporting a role for night light exposure and circadian disruption, we hope that our study will motivate researchers to further examine the relationship between night light and cancer, “said Dr.
“Recently, there have been efforts in some cities to reduce light pollution and we believe that future studies should assess whether and to what extent these efforts affect human health.”
The findings have been published in the journal Cancer.