Electric light thought to spur breast cancer

The Washington Times ^ | December 25, 2005 | Joyce Howard Price

[neverdem]

The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com

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Electric light thought to spur breast cancer

By Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published December 25, 2005

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Results of new research in laboratory mice injected with human cancer cells show that nighttime exposure to artificial light stimulated the growth of human breast tumors.

    The same federally funded study also showed that extended periods of nighttime darkness dramatically slowed the growth of these tumors. Apparently, artificial light depletes levels of the hormone melatonin.

    Authors of the study, published in the Dec. 1 issue of the journal Cancer Research, say the findings might explain why female night-shift workers have a higher rate of breast cancer and why incidence of breast cancer is much greater in industrialized nations than in Third World countries.

    "This is the first experimental evidence that artificial light plays an integral role in the growth of human breast cancer," said Dr. David A. Schwartz, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

    NIEHS and the National Cancer Institute, both agencies of the Bethesda-based National Institutes of Health, funded the research. The experimentation was conducted by investigators with the Bassett Research Institute of the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y., and with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

    Said Lee Reinlib, a program administrator with the NIEHS grants division: "The risk of developing breast cancer is about five times higher in industrialized nations than it is in underdeveloped countries. These results suggest that the increasing nighttime use of electric lighting, both at home and in the workplace, may be a significant factor."

    In a press release, NIEHS noted that previous research has found that artificial...

[Flavius]

sweet more reasons to ship work offshore

[Red Badger]

So, we sit around in the dark eating raw veggies.........

[Keith in Iowa]

coming soon - the study that proves the internal combustion engine is directly responsible for obesity.

[My2Cents]

It's always something...

[bannie]

Take the breasts: I need the light.

[mystery-ak]

I'm now sitting in the dark....I hope the glare of my monitor doesn't kill me...

[Larry Lucido]

Come here, hon, let me protect you from all that dangerous light.

[Red Badger]

You can take meletonin capsules........

[DBrow]

The Light Pollution activists are loving this.

[Flavius]

im allways in the dark

[mystery-ak]

LOL

[bannie]

Yea, but that's not so dramatic.

;-)

[Larry Lucido]

I'll selflessly volunteer to generously apply sunscreen to any at-risk FReeperette.

[Red Badger]

Yeah, it would be Mele-dramatic.......

[mystery-ak]

LOL....I'll have to okay that with my hubby first....

[Dr. Scarpetta]

findings might explain why female night-shift workers have a higher rate of breast cancer and why incidence of breast cancer is much greater in industrialized nations than in Third World countries.

My cousin's daughter was a nurse and worked the night shift for decades. She died of breast cancer.

[neverdem]

You have to wonder what is the result of melatonin supplementation?

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FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[PGalt]

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

[kalee]

My mother is a stage 2 breast cancer survivor of 20 years. She was an insurance agent before she retired, never worked nights.