Evaluation of a Novel Ambient Light Survey Question in the Cancer Prevention Study-3

W. Ryan Diver (), Mariana G. Figueiro, Mark S. Rea, James M. Hodge, W. Dana Flanders, Charlie Zhong, Alpa V. Patel and Susan M. Gapstur
Additional contact information
W. Ryan Diver: Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Mariana G. Figueiro: Light and Health Research Center, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10025, USA
Mark S. Rea: Light and Health Research Center, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10025, USA
James M. Hodge: Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
W. Dana Flanders: Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Charlie Zhong: Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Alpa V. Patel: Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Susan M. Gapstur: Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Nighttime light exposure may increase cancer risk by disrupting the circadian system. However, there is no well-established survey method for measuring ambient light. In the Cancer Prevention Study-3, 732 men and women answered a light survey based on seven environments. The light environment in the past year was assessed twice, one year apart, and four one-week diaries were collected between the annual surveys. A total of 170 participants wore a meter to measure photopic illuminance and circadian stimulus (CS). Illuminance and CS values were estimated for lighting environments from measured values and evaluated with a cross validation approach. The kappas for self-reported light environment comparing the two annual surveys were 0.61 on workdays and 0.49 on non-workdays. Kappas comparing the annual survey to weekly diaries were 0.71 and 0.57 for work and non-workdays, respectively. Agreement was highest for reporting of darkness (95.3%), non-residential light (86.5%), and household light (75.6%) on workdays. Measured illuminance and CS identified three peaks of light (darkness, indoor lighting, and outdoor daytime light). Estimated illuminance and CS were correlated with the measured values overall (r = 0.77 and r = 0.67, respectively) but were less correlated within each light environment (r = 0.23–0.43). The survey has good validity to assess ambient light for studies of human health.

Keywords: ambient light; survey; validation; illuminance; circadian disruption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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