Cell phones emit blue light, which research has shown disrupts our circadian rhythms, confusing our bodies about when it’s time for sleep. Evidence has been emerging that this could increase people’s risk of getting cancer— and recently, a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that exposure to blue light could double a man’s risk of prostate cancer.
The study gathered data from more than 4,000 people. The researchers used questionnaires to evaluate people’s bedroom environments — asking if people slept in dark or dimly-lit rooms, for example — and used photos from space to determine the levels of blue light found outdoors. What they found was bedrooms that were brighter and areas that had heavy outdoor lighting were associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
While the study did not prove that blue light actually causes prostate cancer, it does show a link between them which certainly merits further study.
Report Link:
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp1837
Blue Light Effect on the Eye:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288536/
Harvard Medical School Article on Blue Light’s Dark Side:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
