Comparative Study of Window Glazing Systems Influence on Melatonin Secretion in Patients in the Hospital Wards

Abstract:

The interest in the research of non-visual effects on human health has risen during last decade rapidly. Daylight that has humans during our evolution adapted to is considered as healthy in its natural form. In reality, the daylight inside the buildings can be different in many parameters from the exterior one. Not only intensities and spatial distribution is altered, but also spectral composition can differ significantly. Daylight transmitted through transparent elements in buildings envelope and its shading devices is filtered and therefore can have different photobiological quality compared to the daylight in exterior. Effects of the altered light conditions can have negative impact on health mostly by people that spend time continually or permanently in those internal spaces, such as long term hospitalized patients in medical facilities. The aim of the research was to find out, whether the dramatic change in the transmittance of daylights blue component will evoke the change in melatonins secretion in patients urine samples. Despite great level of circadian disruption of observed subjects a typical changes in melatonin secretion were observed as a result of altered spectral transmittances due to different glazing systems.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 899)
• Pages: 288-293
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.899.288
• Online since: February 2014
• Authors: Jozef Hraška, Peter Hanuliak*, Peter Hartman, Michal Zeman, Katarina Stebelová
• Keywords: Circadian Photometry, Daylighting, Glazing, Health

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