title: Shift work, light at night, and the risk of breast cancer.
abstract: Studies of the effect of shift work have identified several negative health outcomes, most notably breast cancer. Disruption of circadian rhythm by exposure to light at night has been identified as the mechanism likely responsible for this outcome. This article recommends that health care institutions work with occupational health nurses to develop and implement hazard communication and policies concerning shift work, exposure to light at night, and increased risk for negative health outcomes, particularly breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Office of Community-Based Education and Research, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA. Virginia.A.Reed@Dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Virginia A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D009551:Night Care; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior