BACKGROUND Exposure to light at night may increase the risk of breast cancer by suppressing the normal nocturnal production of melatonin by the pineal gland, which, in turn, could increase the release of estrogen by the ovaries. This study investigated whether such exposure is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women. METHODS Case patients (n = 813), aged 20-74 years, were ...

This paper deals with the impact of night work from a gender perspective, through a field study at a factory employing men and women on the night shift. It is based on data for hours of sleep over the course of several weeks, socio-demographic data, and job information, using a semi-structured interview. The methodology includes chronobiological aspects of sleep (mainly quantitative data) and w...