Let’s talk about the shift work issue again! Could night shifts cause cancer? ! !

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I have also worked shift work, and now I occasionally need to be on duty. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this, but here is a report reprinted from Xinhua Net: Just like ultraviolet rays, vehicle exhaust, smoking, etc., working all night carries a potential risk of causing cancer. According to an AP report on November 29, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, will classify night shifts working throughout the night as a \"possible carcinogen\" next month. Possible factors: According to the Associated Press, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based in Lyon, France, will classify night shifts as a \"possible carcinogen\" next month. The American Cancer Society says it may also follow the International Agency for Research on Cancer. To date, the American Cancer Society has used terms such as “uncertain,” “controversial,” and “unproven” when describing the relationship between night shifts and cancer incidence. The International Agency for Research on Cancer adopted this statement because studies have shown that among women and men who work through the night, the incidence of breast cancer and prostate cancer is higher than among those who work regular hours. Reports say that the relatively high cancer incidence rate does not prove that working through the night \"causes\" cancer, but scientists suspect that working through the night poses health risks because it disrupts the body’s biological clock; melatonin, a hormone in the body that helps prevent tumor formation, is generally released at night. The Associated Press says that at this stage, the subjects of the aforementioned research are primarily nurses and flight attendants who frequently work night shifts; to confirm or refute this finding, studies on a broader range of people who work night shifts are needed. Given that this finding remains uncertain, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has used the label of “possible carcinogen” as a precaution. Research support: Reports suggest that if this causal relationship is confirmed, millions of people around the world will be affected. Experts estimate that in developed **, about 20% of workers work primarily night shifts. Richard Stevens, an expert in cancer epidemiology at the University of Connecticut Health Center in the United States, was one of the first scientists to focus on the relationship between night shifts throughout the night and cancer. In 1987, Stevens published a paper suggesting that nighttime light is associated with the incidence of breast cancer. Previously, Stevens noted that since the 1930s, in industrialized societies, the incidence of breast cancer has surged suddenly. In those days, night shifts were considered one of the signs of industrial development. Stevens’ inference seemed incredible to most scientists at the time. In recent years, some studies have found that women who work night shifts on a regular basis are indeed more prone to developing breast cancer. Animal experiments have also shown that reversing day and night patterns makes animals more prone to developing tumors and dying at an earlier age. Some studies have also shown that among men who work night shifts around the clock, the incidence of prostate cancer is relatively high. The International Agency for Research on Cancer’s analysis report on night shifts and cancer will be published in the December issue of The Lancet Oncology. For several reasons, Vincent Colliano, head of the carcinogen classification department at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said there are sufficient samples indicating an increase in cancer incidence among people who work night shifts, but “we cannot rule out other possible (carcinogenic) factors.” Scientists believe that low levels of melatonin increase the risk of cancer. For those who work night shifts, light suppresses the secretion of melatonin. Melatonin can be supplemented externally, but experts do not recommend doing so for long periods, as it may damage the body’s natural secretion capacity. Sleep disorders in night shift workers are another possible factor contributing to an increased risk of cancer. Lack of sleep makes the body’s immune system more vulnerable and reduces its ability to fight off potential cancer cells. Furthermore, disruptions in the biological clock can also affect essential human functions such as cell division and DNA repair. Worse than working night shifts all night is alternating between day shifts and night shifts. Allen Blair of the **American Cancer Institute said, “The question is how to adjust your biological clock.” If you work night shifts continuously, there is less disruption to your biological clock compared to working shift work frequently. ” How to make up for this? Cancer epidemiologist Stevens says that in addition to those who work night shifts, those who frequently have their sleep patterns reversed, such as long-distance travelers and people with insomnia, are at the same risk. Stevens suggests that people who work night shifts should sleep in a room that is dark enough after work; “for your body, a balance between darkness and light is very important, and you should sleep in the dark.” The Associated Press reports that scientists are exploring ways to reduce the risk of cancer among people who work night shifts. Some companies are testing different types of lighting in order to find those that do not affect melatonin secretion. To date, red light has the least impact on melatonin secretion; however, few people are likely to want to work under such lighting. (Feng Wuyong)