Light Pollution as a New Risk Factor for Human Breast and Prostate Cancers (eBook)

Abraham Haim, Boris A. Portnov (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2013 | 2013
VIII, 168 Seiten
Springer Netherland (Verlag)
978-94-007-6220-6 (ISBN)

Infos

Humans are diurnal organisms whose biological clock and temporal organization depend on natural light/dark cycles. Changes in the photoperiod are a signal for seasonal acclimatization of physiological and immune systems as well as behavioral patterns. The invention of electrical light bulbs created more opportunities for work and leisure. However, exposure to artificial light at night (LAN) affects our biological clock, and suppresses pineal melatonin (MLT) production. Among its other properties, MLT is an antioncogenic agent, and therefore its suppression increases the risks of developing breast and prostate cancers (BC&PC). To the best of our knowledge, this book is the first to address the linkage between light pollution and BC&PC in humans. It explains several state-of-the-art theories, linking light pollution with BC&PC. It also illustrates research hypotheses about health effects of light pollution using the results of animal models and population-based studies.

Inhalt

PrefaceChapter 1: IntroductionPART 1: ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND HUMAN TEMPORAL ORGANIZATIONChapter 2: Artificial light and its physicochemical properties (by Fabio Falchi)Chapter 3: Light and dark cycles as a basis of temporal organizationChapter 4: The biological clock and its entrainment by photoperiod Chapter 5: LAN exposure and its potential effects on daily rhythms and seasonal disruptionsChapter 6: Melatonin (MLT) –“hormone of darkness” and a “jack of all traits”PART II: LIGHT POLLUTION, ITS KNOWN HEALTH EFFECTS AND IMPACT ON ENERGY CONSERVATIONChapter 7: Introduction and spread of artificial illumination – a human history retrospective.Chapter 8: Biological definition of light pollutionChapter 9: Light pollution as a general stressorChapter 10: The effects of light pollution on animal rhythms and ecology Chapter 11: Light pollution and hormone-dependent cancers: summary of accumulated empirical evidencePART III: LIGHT POLLUTION AND ITS POTENTIAL LINKS TO BREAST AND PROSTATE CANCERSChapter 12: Geographic patterns of breast and prostate cancers (BC&PC) worldwideChapter 13: Light pollution and its association with breast and prostate cancers (BC&PC) in population-level studiesChapter 14: Selected methodological issues of Light-at-Night (LAN) – Breast and Prostate Cancers (BC&PC) researchChapter 15: Dark-less world – what is next? (Conclusions and prospects for future research)BIBLIOGRAPHYADDITIONAL READING       

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 3.6.2013
• Zusatzinfo: VIII, 168 p. 26 illus., 16 illus. in color.
• Verlagsort: Dordrecht
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Arbeits- / Sozial- / Umweltmedizin
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Onkologie
• Themenwelt: Studium ► Querschnittsbereiche ► Klinische Umweltmedizin
• Schlagworte: chronobiology • Hormone-dependent cancers • Light pollution • Melatonin • prevention
• ISBN-10: 94-007-6220-8 / 9400762208
• ISBN-13: 978-94-007-6220-6 / 9789400762206