ORCID

Abstract

Blue light is a natural component of the visible spectrum that has a fundamental role in regulating circadian rhythms, visual performance, mood, and daytime alertness. In modern environments, however, exposure patterns have shifted due to widespread use of artificial lighting and digital devices. Artificial blue light exposure can be mistimed relative to the biological night. This literature review examines the consequences of inappropriately timed artificial blue light exposure. Specifically, the review covers: (i) the spectral biology of blue light and its role in circadian entrainment; (ii) the timing-, intensity-, and duration-dependent effects on human sleep, ocular health, mood, and metabolic regulation; (iii) age-specific vulnerabilities; (iv) ecological impacts of artificial blue light at night on wildlife behaviour and ecosystem dynamics; (v) existing regulatory frameworks and their limitations; and (vi) current and emerging mitigation technologies, including spectral optimization and adaptive lighting systems. For people, evening blue light exposure suppresses melatonin and disrupts circadian phase alignment leading to adverse metabolic, reproductive, and carcinogenic outcomes. Ecosystems can also be disrupted by artificial blue light at night. Relevant regulatory frameworks are fragmented; they largely do not incorporate circadian-relevant spectral metrics. Increasingly available mitigation technologies require agreed standards for their unbiased assessment.

Keywords

Artificial light at night, Blue light exposure, Circadian rhythm disruption, Ecological impacts, Mitigation strategies, Photobiological effects

Publication Date

2026-01-01

Publication Title

Environmental Advances

Volume

25

Deposit Date

2026-08-17

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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