In today’s world, everyone is talking about pollution and hoping to live in a natural and healthy environment. While most people focus on the pollution of food, air, and water, there is another equally serious type of pollution that receives little attention – light pollution.
Today, we invited Professor Zhou Zhuohui from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, who has conducted in-depth research on light pollution, especially the damage caused by the blue light emitted by electronic devices that people cannot seem to live without.
Professor Zhou Zhuohui, a distinguished professor in the Department of Materials Science at National Tsing Hua University, mentioned in the program “Elite Forum” on New Tang Dynasty Television that blue light pollution poses severe harm to the human body. Before the advent of LED lighting, a study conducted by the United Nations involving nine countries over nearly four years concluded in 2014 that both blue LED and white LED lights present issues of photobiological damage. Excessive and prolonged exposure to light, particularly blue light, can cause significant harm to the eyes beyond our imagination.
Blue light, referring to visible light with a wavelength range of about 400-500 nanometers, is most commonly present in the screen light of electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, and tablets. Due to its ability to reach the macula of the eye directly, prolonged exposure to blue light can lead to eye diseases. Additionally, blue light also significantly affects human circadian rhythms.
Professor Zhou pointed out that if we consider the COVID-19 pandemic as the “third world war,” the harm caused by blue light can be seen as the “fourth world war,” silently unfolding with many people unaware of its effects. Similar to boiling a frog slowly, the damage from blue light gradually deteriorates many people’s eyesight beyond the pace of natural aging.
In Taiwan, it is rare to find a TV host who has not experienced eye damage, especially those who frequently appear on programs. Renowned political commentator Li Tao and popular weather anchor Wang Shuli have both suffered eye injuries due to prolonged exposure to studio lighting. Some influencers use bright lights close to their eyes for aesthetics, risking their eye health. Professor Zhou shared an incident where a prominent TV host lost his vision during a show due to overexposure to light, emphasizing the importance of protecting one’s eyesight.
Professor Zhou, through his bestselling book “Protecting Your Eyes, Starting with the Right Use of Light,” highlighted the alarming rate at which people damage their eyes unknowingly due to excessive light exposure from electronic devices. The pivotal misconception in modern society, according to Professor Zhou, is the belief that brighter light is always better without realizing the potential harm it poses, such as photoretinitis. Just as excessive salt intake can burden the heart and kidneys, overly bright light can lead to retinal inflammation and other eye-related diseases.
Moreover, excessive exposure to artificial light, especially from screens of electronic devices and lighting, can not only cause eye inflammation and macular degeneration but also impact human health significantly. Prolonged exposure to light at night can lead to insomnia, hypertension, and even increase the risk of cancers such as colon, breast, and prostate cancer, as well as neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists have long known that human eyes possess two main types of light-sensing cells: cones for detecting colors and rods for low-light conditions. The disruption of this natural balance due to excessive artificial lighting at night has grave consequences for both human health and nature. Studies have associated the increasing rates of breast cancer among women and prostate cancer among men with night shifts, highlighting the adverse effects of unnatural lighting on human health.
For children to prevent myopia, Professor Zhou suggested that lighting should not be too bright, too blue, or too close and too prolonged. Spending more time outdoors and being cautious about eyeglasses claiming to protect against blue light is essential. Understanding the importance of maintaining a balance in light exposure is crucial to safeguarding eye health.
In conclusion, as humans strive for brightness, it is vital to remember that an excess of light, particularly of certain wavelengths, can detrimentally affect health. The need for a balance between artificial and natural light to maintain overall well-being cannot be overstated.
The TV program “Elite Forum,” produced by New Tang Dynasty Television and Epoch Times, gathers elite individuals from various fields to discuss hot topics, analyze global trends, and provide viewers with in-depth insights into societal issues and historical truths.
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