People working night shifts may be at an increased risk for breast cancer, according to research from the University of Georgia. Chunla He, a biostatistics graduate student in the UGA College of Public Health, published a study in September showing people who are exposed to artificial light at night, when the body would usually be asleep, are more likely to develop breast cancer, said He of Athens. Sara Robb, assistant professor of epidemiology at UGA, said people who work at night should take notice of their increased risk for breast cancer. “The most important takeaway from this study … is that we found that people who are employed in certain jobs, like shift workers who work at night or flight attendants, are at a higher risk for breast cancer,” said Robb of Athens, who was He’s mentor on the research. The study, called “Circadian disrupting exposures and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis,” which was published in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, analyzed five previous studies performed in the past 14 years to draw conclusions from their results. After looking at those studies, He found artificial light, such as fluorescent lights, in combination with little sleep was the key to high risk for breast cancer. “To decrease the use of artificial light, people should avoid working at night and implement earlier bed times,” He said. Artificial light can be harmful because it interrupts the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s natural 24-hour cycle of sleeping and waking, Robb said. “An interruption in the circadian rhythm means people are spending time awake when they’re supposed to be asleep,” Robb said. The artificial light disrupts the body’s ability to produce the hormone melatonin, which regulates the body’s sleep cycle. “You naturally secrete melatonin, which tells your body when it’s supposed to sleep,” Robb said. When the body isn’t producing enough melatonin, the person doesn’t feel tired, Robb said. So, if someone works through the night, not giving in to the body’s natural urge to sleep, the person may be at a higher risk. In her research, He looked at flight attendants, who can work through the day or through the night, and she found that people who hold night jobs for a longer period of time were at a higher risk. “We did find … that people employed in that type of occupation for longer were at a higher risk,” Robb said. For every 10 years someone consistently works a night shift, the risk for breast cancer increases by 16 percent, according to the study. Robb said there are things employers and workers can do to try to reduce the effects of artificial light exposure on their bodies. “I think people should definitely be aware of this,” Robb said. Employees working at night can wear dark sunglasses so that bright street lights don’t affect them or take melatonin supplements to keep the body on its natural circadian rhythm. “It’s not just being tired from staying up all night that is an effect, it’s what’s going on at a deeper level in the body,” Robb said.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:02:23 +0000
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