Blue-enriched white light in the workplace improves self-reported alertness, performance and sleep quality
- PMID:18815716
- DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.1268
Blue-enriched white light in the workplace improves self-reported alertness, performance and sleep quality
Abstract
Objectives: Specifications and standards for lighting installations in occupational settings are based on the spectral sensitivity of the classical visual system and do not take into account the recently discovered melanopsin-based, blue-light-sensitive photoreceptive system. The authors investigated the effects of exposure to blue-enriched white light during daytime workhours in an office setting.
Methods: The experiment was conducted on 104 white-collar workers on two office floors. After baseline assessments under existing lighting conditions, every participant was exposed to two new lighting conditions, each lasting 4 weeks. One consisted of blue-enriched white light (17 000 K) and the other of white light (4000 K). The order was balanced between the floors. Questionnaire and rating scales were used to assess alertness, mood, sleep quality, performance, mental effort, headache and eye strain, and mood throughout the 8-week intervention.
Results: Altogether 94 participants [mean age 36.4 (SD 10.2) years] were included in the analysis. Compared with white light (4000 K), blue-enriched white light (17 000 K) improved the subjective measures of alertness (P<0.0001), positive mood (P=0.0001), performance (P<0.0001), evening fatigue (P=0.0001), irritability (P=0.004), concentration (P<0.0001), and eye discomfort (P=0.002). Daytime sleepiness was reduced (P=0.0001), and the quality of subjective nocturnal sleep (P=0.016) was improved under blue-enriched white light. When the participants' expectation about the effect of the light treatments was entered into the analysis as a covariate, significant effects persisted for performance, alertness, evening fatigue, irritability, difficulty focusing, concentrating, and blurred vision.
Conclusions: Exposure to blue-enriched white light during daytime workhours improves subjective alertness, performance, and evening fatigue.
Similar articles
- Blue-Enriched Lighting for Older People Living in Care Homes: Effect on Activity, Actigraphic Sleep, Mood and Alertness.Hopkins S, Morgan PL, Schlangen LJM, Williams P, Skene DJ, Middleton B.Hopkins S, et al.Curr Alzheimer Res. 2017;14(10):1053-1062. doi: 10.2174/1567205014666170608091119.Curr Alzheimer Res. 2017.PMID:28595523Clinical Trial.
- The effect of blue-enriched white light on cognitive performances and sleepiness of night-shift workers: A field study.Motamedzadeh M, Golmohammadi R, Kazemi R, Heidarimoghadam R.Motamedzadeh M, et al.Physiol Behav. 2017 Aug 1;177:208-214. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.05.008. Epub 2017 May 8.Physiol Behav. 2017.PMID:28495465
- Blue-Enriched Morning Light as a Countermeasure to Light at the Wrong Time: Effects on Cognition, Sleepiness, Sleep, and Circadian Phase.Münch M, Nowozin C, Regente J, Bes F, De Zeeuw J, Hädel S, Wahnschaffe A, Kunz D.Münch M, et al.Neuropsychobiology. 2016;74(4):207-218. doi: 10.1159/000477093. Epub 2017 Jun 22.Neuropsychobiology. 2016.PMID:28637029
- Efficacy of Morning Shorter Wavelength Lighting in the Visible (Blue) Range and Broad-Spectrum or Blue-Enriched Bright White Light in Regulating Sleep, Mood, and Fatigue in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.Chow CM, Ekanayake K, Hackett D.Chow CM, et al.Clocks Sleep. 2024 May 28;6(2):255-266. doi: 10.3390/clockssleep6020018.Clocks Sleep. 2024.PMID:38920419Free PMC article.Review.
- Non-visual effects of indoor light environment on humans: A review✰.Xiao H, Cai H, Li X.Xiao H, et al.Physiol Behav. 2021 Jan 1;228:113195. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113195. Epub 2020 Oct 3.Physiol Behav. 2021.PMID:33022281Review.
Cited by
- Development and Verification of a 480 nm Blue Light Enhanced/Reduced Human-Centric LED for Light-Induced Melatonin Concentration Control.Eo YJ, Choi SW, Kim C, Lee S, Yoon C, Kim DH, Kim C, Do YR.Eo YJ, et al.ACS Omega. 2023 Nov 21;8(48):45547-45556. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05620. eCollection 2023 Dec 5.ACS Omega. 2023.PMID:38075810Free PMC article.
- Alerting or Somnogenic Light: Pick Your Color.Bourgin P, Hubbard J.Bourgin P, et al.PLoS Biol. 2016 Aug 15;14(8):e2000111. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000111. eCollection 2016 Aug.PLoS Biol. 2016.PMID:27525420Free PMC article.
- Effects of light intervention on alertness and mental performance during the post-lunch dip: a multi-measure study.Askaripoor T, Motamedzade M, Golmohammadi R, Farhadian M, Babamiri M, Samavati M.Askaripoor T, et al.Ind Health. 2019 Aug 3;57(4):511-524. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2018-0030. Epub 2018 Oct 27.Ind Health. 2019.PMID:30369519Free PMC article.
- Luxotonic signals in human prefrontal cortex as a possible substrate for effects of light on mood and cognition.Sabbah S, Worden MS, Laniado DD, Berson DM, Sanes JN.Sabbah S, et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Jul 12;119(28):e2118192119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2118192119. Epub 2022 Jul 6.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022.PMID:35867740Free PMC article.
- Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology.Tosini G, Ferguson I, Tsubota K.Tosini G, et al.Mol Vis. 2016 Jan 24;22:61-72. eCollection 2016.Mol Vis. 2016.PMID:26900325Free PMC article.Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Related information
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical