Question
The other day, a very bright streetlight was installed outside my house. At night, it’s as if it’s daytime inside the house. With the streetlight so bright outside, what negative changes could it cause to my child’s body over time? Do streetlights affect children’s sleep and development?
Answer
Strong light exposure at night is definitely not good, for both adults and children. The standard for light brightness should be below the brightness of a half-moon; otherwise, it will cause endocrine disorders in humans. Some hormones are only secreted at night, and if there is strong light, the joints won’t recognize it as night, and thus won’t secrete them. The consequences can be mild, with children experiencing night sweats and waking up at night. Adults, unless they have night blindness, should still choose a dark environment for sleep. It’s noted here that simply wearing an eye mask is not enough; the environment must be completely dark.