Sleep Med Psychophysiol.
2020 Jun;27(1):1-7. 10.14401/KASMED.2020.27.1.1.
Effects of Light Pollution from Mobile Digital Devices on Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital, Sejong, Korea
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejon, Korea
- 4Korea University Chronobiology Institute, Seoul, Korea
- 5Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2504229
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.14401/KASMED.2020.27.1.1
Abstract
- Mobile digital devices are very familiar and useful devices in the daily life of modern people, and are used for various tasks such as communication, reading, writing, and playing media. As the use of mobile digital devices has become more prevalent, user time has also been increasing. In particular, the number of people who use digital devices before sleep is growing. The light pollution associated with these devices is classified into four categories: urban sky glow, glare, light trespass, and clutter. The pattern in which modern people use digital devices corresponds to light pollution caused by light trespass and clutter from light exposure to artificial light at night. The light pollution caused by digital devices can cause melatonin secretion suppression, delayed sleep onset, reduction of sleepiness before bedtime, and periodic rhythm and cognitive function disturbances. In addition, a study of children and adolescents showed there may be disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm, deterioration of sleep quality, and daytime fatigue due to light pollution caused by artificial light at night from mobile digital devices. A multi-faceted research effort is also necessary to investigate the healthy use of mobile digital devices based on research evidence and insights with an accurate evaluation of the influence of mobile digital devices as a form of light pollution.
