Prolonged exposure to artificial light, especially among those working night shifts, can worsen asthma, wheezing, and respiratory allergies, according to a study by Dr. H Paramesh, a pediatric pulmonologist at IISc’s Divecha Centre for Climate Change. His research, published in The European Society of Medicine’s Medical Research Archives, highlights underappreciated environmental triggers of respiratory illnesses.
Artificial lighting with blue hues disrupts circadian rhythms, lowers melatonin production, and hampers the body’s natural healing. This disturbance narrows airways, intensifying asthma symptoms, Dr. Paramesh explained. People at higher risk include night-shift workers like healthcare professionals and truck drivers, as well as individuals spending extended periods in front of screens.
Air pollution compounds these issues, causing respiratory conditions like rhinitis, dermatitis, and asthma, even in children without genetic predispositions. Shifting weather patterns further aggravate allergies, with increased pollen and dust during dry spells.
Children remain the most susceptible group, with chronic respiratory conditions tied to long-term air pollution exposure. Pregnant women exposed to traffic pollution risk complications like premature births and airway obstructions in newborns. Elderly individuals and urban residents in poorly ventilated buildings also face significant risks.
Dr. Paramesh’s earlier studies revealed a rise in allergic rhinitis cases in Bengaluru from 22.5% in 1994 to 50% in 2022. Chronic cough prevalence in India surged from 8% in 1999 to over 21% in 2017. Without targeted efforts to mitigate pollution and environmental risks, respiratory health challenges are set to escalate.
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