Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!network!ucsd!usc!apple!oliveb!Arezzo!jan
From: jan@Arezzo.orc.olivetti.com (Jan Parcel)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Health and light (was Re: Office Survey Results)
Summary: Dr. Lewy of Portland, Or is looking into this
Keywords: light, spectrum
Message-ID: <46351@oliveb.olivetti.com>
Date: 10 Aug 89 00:36:40 GMT
Expires: 1 Sep 89 07:00:00 GMT
References: <10440004@hp-lsd.HP.COM> <6474@pdn.paradyne.com> <3065@nmtsun.nmt.edu> <632@amc-gw.UUCP> <3069@nmtsun.nmt.edu>
Sender: news@oliveb.olivetti.com
Reply-To: jan@orc.olivetti.com
Organization: Olivetti Research Center, Menlo Park, CA
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It has been known for years that light affects the metabolism of vertebrates.

In the last couple of years, the San Jose Mercury has run several stories to
the effect that:

Research has been going on in Oregon and Norway regarding full-spectrum
light and:

1. seasonal depression, and 

2. miscarriages (some vertebrates won't reproduce unless there is a good food
   supply, which they decide based on the number of hours of sunlight per day).

Most incandescent lights tell us it is winter and we are seeing by firelight,
and, at some latitudes, there isn't enough food so it's time to pseudohibernate.
To convince us it is spring, summer, or fall, we need some blue bordering on
ultraviolet.  This appears to vary considerably among individuals.  So far,
both men and women have been shown to be affected, but more women than men.
The effect of poor lighting is to change (I forget how) the blood's levels
of ??melatonin??.   I forget how to spell it.  Anyway, current treatment is
with full-spectrum lights but they may come out with a pill of melatonin for
those affected, and it may also be used for jet lag.  

A Dr. Lewy in Portland, Ore. has been cited as one of the leaders in this
area, and I have heard the National Institute of Health now carries 
information on this, but I haven't confirmed it.