Author(s)

Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed^1,2*, Saleh Ahmed Alogla¹, Rayan Mohsen Ismael¹, Abdulkarim Ali Alqufayi¹, Saleh Othman Alamer¹, Hamoud Khalid Alshaya¹, Abdulsalam Eisa Mazyad Alshammari¹

¹Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, KSA.
²Molecular Diagnostics and Personalized Therapeutics Unit, University of Hail, Hail, KSA.

Background: It was well established that exposure to nighttime light was responsible of a diverse negative health effect. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the epidemiologic exposure to artificial light at night time and negative health consequences that associated with prolonged nighttime lighting exposure. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional survey, involving a total of 266 Saudi residents living in the city of Hail, Northern KSA. Essential information regarding exposure to light at night time was obtained. Results: The overall incidence of nighttime light exposure in the present study was 65.8% for general population, was 61.5% males and was 38.5% for females. About 75.6% persons used to sleep for <6 hours and 36.8% individuals used to sleep on light exposure. Conclusion: Prolonged exposure to the light at nighttime is prevalent in Saudi Arabia. This exposure usually results from late sleep in the nighttime and the late awake in the daytime.

Nighttime, Sleep Time, Light Pollution, Saudi Arabia

Ahmed, H. , Alogla, S. , Ismael, R. , Alqufayi, A. , Alamer, S. , Alshaya, H. and Alshammari, A. (2017) Light Pollution Associated with Delayed Sleep Time: A Major Hygienic Problem in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 7, 125-136. doi: 10.4236/jbbs.2017.73012.