Mark S. Rea

Mark S. Rea
Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Troy, New York 12180
Tanzania

Publications
  • Research Article
    A Working Threshold for Acute Nocturnal Melatonin Suppression from “White” Light Sources used in Architectural Applications
    Author(s): Mark S. Rea and Mariana G. FigueiroMark S. Rea and Mariana G. Figueiro

    Retinal light exposures can decrease melatonin production at night. Since nocturnal melatonin suppression by light has been implicated as an endocrine disruptor and linked to certain diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and cancer, it is important to be able to estimate a threshold light level needed to reliably suppress melatonin. The present study was designed to develop a working threshold for melatonin suppression from “white” light that might be experienced by people in their living environments. Twenty-eight subjects participated in two studies. In addition to dark, control nights, subjects were exposed to 8, 22, and 60 lux at the cornea (study 1, n=14) and to 60, 200, and 720 lux (study 2, n=14) of a “warm white” light source (correlated color temperature of 2670 K). These corneal illuminance levels translate to modeled melatonin suppression levels of 1%,.. View More»
    DOI: 10.4172/2157-2518.1000150

    Abstract PDF