Circadian Environments

Science

Reading list

The studies, reviews and guidelines behind our science pages, grouped by topic. Journal articles link to the publisher and to PubMed.

Light

  1. Wright KP, McHill AW, Birks BR, et al. Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light-dark cycle. Curr Biol. 2013;23(16):1554-8. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.039 · PubMed 23910656
  2. Gooley JJ, Chamberlain K, Smith KA, et al. Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(3):E463-72. doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2098 · PubMed 21193540
  3. Chang AM, Aeschbach D, Duffy JF, Czeisler CA. Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(4):1232-7. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1418490112 · PubMed 25535358
  4. Figueiro MG, Steverson B, Heerwagen J, et al. The impact of daytime light exposures on sleep and mood in office workers. Sleep Health. 2017;3(3):204-215. doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2017.03.005 · PubMed 28526259
  5. Boubekri M, Cheung IN, Reid KJ, Wang CH, Zee PC. Impact of windows and daylight exposure on overall health and sleep quality of office workers: a case-control pilot study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2014;10(6):603-11. doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.3780 · PubMed 24932139
  6. Turner PL, Mainster MA. Circadian photoreception: ageing and the eye's important role in systemic health. Br J Ophthalmol. 2008;92(11):1439-44. doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2008.141747 · PubMed 18757473
  7. Brown TM, Brainard GC, Cajochen C, et al. Recommendations for daytime, evening, and nighttime indoor light exposure to best support physiology, sleep, and wakefulness in healthy adults. PLoS Biol. 2022;20(3):e3001571. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001571 · PubMed 35298459

Air

  1. Logue JM, McKone TE, Sherman MH, Singer BC. Hazard assessment of chemical air contaminants measured in residences. Indoor Air. 2011;21(2):92-109. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00683.x · PubMed 21392118
  2. Sundell J, Levin H, Nazaroff WW, et al. Ventilation rates and health: multidisciplinary review of the scientific literature. Indoor Air. 2011;21(3):191-204. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00703.x · PubMed 21204989
  3. Allen JG, MacNaughton P, Satish U, et al. Associations of cognitive function scores with carbon dioxide, ventilation, and volatile organic compound exposures in office workers: a controlled exposure study of green and conventional office environments. Environ Health Perspect. 2016;124(6):805-12. doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510037 · PubMed 26502459
  4. Strøm-Tejsen P, Zukowska D, Wargocki P, Wyon DP. The effects of bedroom air quality on sleep and next-day performance. Indoor Air. 2016;26(5):679-86. doi.org/10.1111/ina.12254 · PubMed 26452168
  5. Fisk WJ, Lei-Gomez Q, Mendell MJ. Meta-analyses of the associations of respiratory health effects with dampness and mold in homes. Indoor Air. 2007;17(4):284-96. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00475.x · PubMed 17661925
  6. Knibbs LD, Woldeyohannes S, Marks GB, Cowie CT. Damp housing, gas stoves, and the burden of childhood asthma in Australia. Med J Aust. 2018;208(7):299-302. doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00469 · PubMed 29642816
  7. Lebel ED, Finnegan CJ, Ouyang Z, Jackson RB. Methane and NOx emissions from natural gas stoves, cooktops, and ovens in residential homes. Environ Sci Technol. 2022;56(4):2529-2539. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04707 · PubMed 35081712
  8. World Health Organization. WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Geneva: WHO; 2021. www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228
  9. Wolkoff P. Indoor air humidity, air quality, and health: an overview. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2018;221(3):376-390. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.01.015 · PubMed 29398406
  10. Cummings BE, Waring MS. Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2020;30(2):253-261. doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0175-9 · PubMed 31695112

Thermal environment

  1. Kräuchi K. The thermophysiological cascade leading to sleep initiation in relation to phase of entrainment. Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11(6):439-51. doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2007.07.001 · PubMed 17764994
  2. Gasparrini A, Guo Y, Hashizume M, et al. Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature: a multicountry observational study. Lancet. 2015;386(9991):369-75. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62114-0 · PubMed 26003380
  3. Howden-Chapman P, Matheson A, Crane J, et al. Effect of insulating existing houses on health inequality: cluster randomised study in the community. BMJ. 2007;334(7591):460. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39070.573032.80 · PubMed 17324975
  4. World Health Organization. WHO Housing and health guidelines. Geneva: WHO; 2018. www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550376
  5. Okamoto-Mizuno K, Mizuno K. Effects of thermal environment on sleep and circadian rhythm. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31(1):14. doi.org/10.1186/1880-6805-31-14 · PubMed 22738673
  6. Baniassadi A, Manor B, Yu W, Travison T, Lipsitz L. Nighttime ambient temperature and sleep in community-dwelling older adults. Sci Total Environ. 2023;899:165623. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165623 · PubMed 37474050

Water

  1. National Health and Medical Research Council, Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 6 (2011), version 3.7. Canberra: NHMRC; updated 2022. www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-drinking-water-guidelines
  2. Harvey PJ, Handley HK, Taylor MP. Widespread copper and lead contamination of household drinking water, New South Wales, Australia. Environ Res. 2016;151:275-285. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.041 · PubMed 27512893

Acoustics

  1. Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, et al. Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health. Lancet. 2014;383(9925):1325-1332. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X · PubMed 24183105
  2. Münzel T, Gori T, Babisch W, Basner M. Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise exposure. Eur Heart J. 2014;35(13):829-36. doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehu030 · PubMed 24616334
  3. Halperin D. Environmental noise and sleep disturbances: a threat to health? Sleep Sci. 2014;7(4):209-12. doi.org/10.1016/j.slsci.2014.11.003 · PubMed 26483931
  4. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Environmental noise guidelines for the European Region. Copenhagen: WHO Europe; 2018. www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289053563

Materials

  1. Salthammer T, Mentese S, Marutzky R. Formaldehyde in the indoor environment. Chem Rev. 2010;110(4):2536-72. doi.org/10.1021/cr800399g · PubMed 20067232
  2. Logue JM, McKone TE, Sherman MH, Singer BC. Hazard assessment of chemical air contaminants measured in residences. Indoor Air. 2011;21(2):92-109. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00683.x · PubMed 21392118
  3. Mitro SD, Dodson RE, Singla V, et al. Consumer product chemicals in indoor dust: a quantitative meta-analysis of U.S. studies. Environ Sci Technol. 2016;50(19):10661-10672. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02023 · PubMed 27623734
  4. Svanes Ø, Bertelsen RJ, Lygre SHL, et al. Cleaning at home and at work in relation to lung function decline and airway obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;197(9):1157-1163. doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201706-1311OC · PubMed 29451393
  5. Allen JG, MacNaughton P, Satish U, et al. Associations of cognitive function scores with carbon dioxide, ventilation, and volatile organic compound exposures in office workers: a controlled exposure study of green and conventional office environments. Environ Health Perspect. 2016;124(6):805-12. doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510037 · PubMed 26502459

Sleep environment

  1. Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: a joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Sleep. 2015;38(6):843-4. doi.org/10.5665/sleep.4716 · PubMed 26039963
  2. Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert SM, et al. National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health. 2015;1(1):40-43. doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010 · PubMed 29073412
  3. Adams RJ, Appleton SL, Taylor AW, et al. Sleep health of Australian adults in 2016: results of the 2016 Sleep Health Foundation national survey. Sleep Health. 2017;3(1):35-42. doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2016.11.005 · PubMed 28346149
  4. Mason IC, Grimaldi D, Reid KJ, et al. Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022;119(12):e2113290119. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2113290119 · PubMed 35286195
  5. Obayashi K, Saeki K, Iwamoto J, et al. Exposure to light at night, nocturnal urinary melatonin excretion, and obesity/dyslipidemia in the elderly: a cross-sectional analysis of the HEIJO-KYO study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(1):337-44. doi.org/10.1210/jc.2012-2874 · PubMed 23118419
  6. Strøm-Tejsen P, Zukowska D, Wargocki P, Wyon DP. The effects of bedroom air quality on sleep and next-day performance. Indoor Air. 2016;26(5):679-86. doi.org/10.1111/ina.12254 · PubMed 26452168
  7. Baniassadi A, Manor B, Yu W, Travison T, Lipsitz L. Nighttime ambient temperature and sleep in community-dwelling older adults. Sci Total Environ. 2023;899:165623. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165623 · PubMed 37474050
  8. Halperin D. Environmental noise and sleep disturbances: a threat to health? Sleep Sci. 2014;7(4):209-12. doi.org/10.1016/j.slsci.2014.11.003 · PubMed 26483931
  9. Gooley JJ, Chamberlain K, Smith KA, et al. Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(3):E463-72. doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2098 · PubMed 21193540
  10. Okamoto-Mizuno K, Mizuno K. Effects of thermal environment on sleep and circadian rhythm. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31(1):14. doi.org/10.1186/1880-6805-31-14 · PubMed 22738673

Ageing in place & longevity

  1. Gillespie LD, Robertson MC, Gillespie WJ, et al. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(9):CD007146. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007146.pub3 · PubMed 22972103
  2. Turner PL, Mainster MA. Circadian photoreception: ageing and the eye's important role in systemic health. Br J Ophthalmol. 2008;92(11):1439-44. doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2008.141747 · PubMed 18757473
  3. Figueiro MG, Plitnick BA, Lok A, et al. Tailored lighting intervention improves measures of sleep, depression, and agitation in persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia living in long-term care facilities. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:1527-37. doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S68557 · PubMed 25246779
  4. Gasparrini A, Guo Y, Hashizume M, et al. Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature: a multicountry observational study. Lancet. 2015;386(9991):369-75. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62114-0 · PubMed 26003380
  5. Baniassadi A, Manor B, Yu W, Travison T, Lipsitz L. Nighttime ambient temperature and sleep in community-dwelling older adults. Sci Total Environ. 2023;899:165623. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165623 · PubMed 37474050

Biophilic design

  1. Ulrich RS. View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science. 1984;224(4647):420-1. doi.org/10.1126/science.6143402 · PubMed 6143402
  2. Twohig-Bennett C, Jones A. The health benefits of the great outdoors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environ Res. 2018;166:628-637. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030 · PubMed 29982151
  3. Nieuwenhuis M, Knight C, Postmes T, Haslam SA. The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: three field experiments. J Exp Psychol Appl. 2014;20(3):199-214. doi.org/10.1037/xap0000024 · PubMed 25068481
  4. Cummings BE, Waring MS. Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2020;30(2):253-261. doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0175-9 · PubMed 31695112

Sustainability

  1. Howden-Chapman P, Matheson A, Crane J, et al. Effect of insulating existing houses on health inequality: cluster randomised study in the community. BMJ. 2007;334(7591):460. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39070.573032.80 · PubMed 17324975
  2. Allen JG, MacNaughton P, Laurent JG, et al. Green buildings and health. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2015;2(3):250-8. doi.org/10.1007/s40572-015-0063-y · PubMed 26231502
  3. MacNaughton P, Cao X, Buonocore J, et al. Energy savings, emission reductions, and health co-benefits of the green building movement. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2018;28(4):307-318. doi.org/10.1038/s41370-017-0014-9 · PubMed 29382929
  4. Lebel ED, Finnegan CJ, Ouyang Z, Jackson RB. Methane and NOx emissions from natural gas stoves, cooktops, and ovens in residential homes. Environ Sci Technol. 2022;56(4):2529-2539. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04707 · PubMed 35081712
  5. Knibbs LD, Woldeyohannes S, Marks GB, Cowie CT. Damp housing, gas stoves, and the burden of childhood asthma in Australia. Med J Aust. 2018;208(7):299-302. doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00469 · PubMed 29642816

Childcare & schools

  1. Landrigan PJ, Goldman LR. Children's vulnerability to toxic chemicals: a challenge and opportunity to strengthen health and environmental policy. Health Aff (Millwood). 2011;30(5):842-50. doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0151 · PubMed 21543423
  2. Mitro SD, Dodson RE, Singla V, et al. Consumer product chemicals in indoor dust: a quantitative meta-analysis of U.S. studies. Environ Sci Technol. 2016;50(19):10661-10672. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02023 · PubMed 27623734
  3. Sunyer J, Esnaola M, Alvarez-Pedrerol M, et al. Association between traffic-related air pollution in schools and cognitive development in primary school children: a prospective cohort study. PLoS Med. 2015;12(3):e1001792. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001792 · PubMed 25734425
  4. Knibbs LD, Woldeyohannes S, Marks GB, Cowie CT. Damp housing, gas stoves, and the burden of childhood asthma in Australia. Med J Aust. 2018;208(7):299-302. doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00469 · PubMed 29642816
  5. Fisk WJ, Lei-Gomez Q, Mendell MJ. Meta-analyses of the associations of respiratory health effects with dampness and mold in homes. Indoor Air. 2007;17(4):284-96. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00475.x · PubMed 17661925
  6. World Health Organization. Air pollution and child health: prescribing clean air. Geneva: WHO; 2018. www.who.int/publications/i/item/air-pollution-and-child-health
  7. Haverinen-Shaughnessy U, Moschandreas DJ, Shaughnessy RJ. Association between substandard classroom ventilation rates and students' academic achievement. Indoor Air. 2011;21(2):121-31. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00686.x · PubMed 21029182
  8. Stansfeld SA, Berglund B, Clark C, et al. Aircraft and road traffic noise and children's cognition and health: a cross-national study. Lancet. 2005;365(9475):1942-9. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66660-3 · PubMed 15936421
  9. Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, et al. Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health. Lancet. 2014;383(9925):1325-1332. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X · PubMed 24183105
  10. Lanphear BP, Hornung R, Khoury J, et al. Low-level environmental lead exposure and children's intellectual function: an international pooled analysis. Environ Health Perspect. 2005;113(7):894-9. doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7688 · PubMed 16002379
  11. Harvey PJ, Handley HK, Taylor MP. Widespread copper and lead contamination of household drinking water, New South Wales, Australia. Environ Res. 2016;151:275-285. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.041 · PubMed 27512893
  12. He M, Xiang F, Zeng Y, et al. Effect of time spent outdoors at school on the development of myopia among children in China: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;314(11):1142-8. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.10803 · PubMed 26372583
  13. Svanes Ø, Bertelsen RJ, Lygre SHL, et al. Cleaning at home and at work in relation to lung function decline and airway obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;197(9):1157-1163. doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201706-1311OC · PubMed 29451393