Beware of Blue Light's Impact on Melatonin and Health

Blue light in the 460-480 nanometer range suppresses melatonin production by activating the melanopsin photoreceptor, disrupting circadian rhythms and clock genes. The body's internal clock relies on strong shifts in blue light at the beginning and end of the day. Evening exposure to blue light from electronic gadgets like smartphones and LED screens, as well as energy-efficient bulbs, can lead to health risks such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurologic diseases, gastrointestinal ulcers, and adverse reproductive outcomes. Close proximity to such devices intensifies the impact of nocturnal blue light.