Light for health and well-being – from the biological principles to policy
© Daimler und Benz Stiftung
Light exposure – the influence of natural or artificial light on an individual – has a significant impact on human health and well-being. Light regulates certain physiological functions: This is one of the many findings of research from recent decades. For example, it has been determined that exposure to blue light in the evening can disrupt sleep by impairing the production of the hormone melatonin, which controls the organism’s day-night rhythm.
With this new knowledge of neurobiological interrelationships, practical application is also gaining in importance. In 2018, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE – Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage) published a new international standard for quantifying the influence of light on human physiology, beyond the mere function of vision. The first international consensus recommendations were published four years later.
Practical application of these findings is faced with various obstacles, however, such as the need to define clear limits and guidelines. While the non-visual effects of light under controlled laboratory conditions have been characterized in detail, the evidence base under field or real-world conditions is still relatively sparse. The Ladenburg Roundtable “Light for health and well-being – From the biological fundamentals to policy” therefore focused on filling the gaps in knowledge between basic and applied research. The discussion was led by Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan from the Technical University of Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen.
From April 14 to 16, 2024 around 20 international experts convened in Ladenburg to present their work with a view to clarifying open questions in this field. They focused on clear and structured procedures for advancing knowledge of this matter. Communication measures and options for further cooperation were also discussed, in order to make the complex biological mechanisms accessible to a wide range of interest groups. A white paper and further publications are currently in preparation.
Global campaign from Ladenburg Roundtable launched
"Light for public health" is the name of a global initiative to be launched on May 16, 2025, the UNESCO International Day of Light. The objective is to raise public awareness of how ocular light exposure influences health and well-being. The campaign arose from the 2024 Ladenburg Roundtable "Light for health and well-being" of the Daimler and Benz Foundation, at which 21 international experts came together to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and public health measures. The outcome is a coordinated, scientifically founded initiative to inform society - from healthcare professionals and architects to parents and the general public - as to how exposure to light can be optimized for better sleep, emotional well-being, and health. The initiative is supported by further organizations, and its scientific basis comprises 26 statements developed by experts in a consensus process; these are publicly accessible at: lightforpublichealth.org.
- Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan, Technical University of Munich and Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
- Dr. Christine Blume, University of Basel, Centre for Chronobiology
- Prof. George Brainard, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia (USA), Department of Neurology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Dr. Kai Broszio, The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
- Prof. Timothy Brown, University of Manchester, Centre for Biological Timing
- Jan Denneman, Good Light Group (Netherlands)
- Dr. Maydel Fernandez Alonso, Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Kybernetik, Tübingen
- Dr. Daniel Joyce, University of Southern Queensland (Australien), School of Psychology and Wellbeing
- Dr. Laura Kervezee, Leiden University Medical Center (Niederlande)
- Dr. Renske Lok, Stanford University (USA), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Prof. Robert Lucas, University of Manchester, Centre for Biological Timing
- Dr. Elise McGlashan, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
- Prof. Raymond P. Najjar, National University of Singapore, Department of Ophthalmology
- Dr. Luke Price, UK Health Security Agency
- Dr. Sylvia Rabstein, German Social Accident Insurance
- Dr. David Sliney, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (USA)
- Dr. Oliver Stefani, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Engineering and Architecture
- Jennifer Veitch, National Research Council Canada
- Dr. Daniela Weiskopf, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Salzgitter
- Dr. Johannes Zauner, Technical University of Munich, Chronobiology and Health
© Daimler und Benz Stiftung