Light is a fundamental aspect of human life. In fact, all life on earth has evolved under the full solar spectrum, influencing not only our ability to see but also our overall health and wellbeing. The right kind of light, particularly natural light, plays a crucial role in regulating our circadian rhythms, mood, and even our physical health. However, a lack of access to appropriate light can lead to a range of health issues, at a time when it is widely reported that we spend on average 90 per cent of our time indoors (for those in the USA the average amount of time spent indoors is 93 per cent, with the extreme being in the UAE where the time spent indoors jumps to 99 per cent).

What can be done to support a return to the consumption of appropriate healthy light and why is it so important?

Ulysse Dormoy CEO of lighting specialists Atrium explores the impact of insufficient light on human health, highlights some of the research and outlines potential solutions to address this shortfall

IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT FOR HEALTH

Light exposure is essential for maintaining our circadian rhythms, which are the natural cycles that regulate sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, and other bodily functions. Natural light, especially sunlight, is the primary cue for these rhythms. When we are exposed to natural light during the day, it helps to keep our circadian rhythms in sync, promoting better sleep and overall health.

In addition to regulating circadian rhythms, light exposure also affects our mood and mental health. Sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Conversely, a lack of sunlight can lead to reduced serotonin levels, which is associated with depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

We’ve known about photosynthesis for approximately 250 years and yet we are only now starting to join the dots together in our understanding that just like plants, humans are solar collectors too, and we need the full solar spectrum, the visible part for vision and the invisible parts for physiological wellbeing. However, to quote Scott Zimmerman, an engineer and expert in optics focused on understanding the mechanisms by which light interacts with human biology: “Sunlight used to represent the largest energy input into the body”, what is the impact of our modern indoor lifestyles? Zimmerman is also quoted as saying “the other thing that I think people need to understand is that right now what we’re going through is really the largest reduction in solar exposure in human history”.

We introduced artificial electric light into the built environment approximately 150 years ago, and the shift to our modern indoor lifestyle started with the first industrial revolution around 1760, so in an evolutionary perspective this is all quite new. We simply don’t yet know the true impact of hiding ourselves away from our planet’s primary energy source.

To better understand the benefits derived from the full solar spectrum, we must dissect the different wavelengths of light to show the different biological effects, remembering that light is not just for vision.

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