A recent study conducted on rats shows that prolonged exposure to blue light emitted from smartphones and tablets can cause harm to rats. early pubertyResearch highlights possible connection between blue light displayaccelerated bone growth, and advanced bone age, which may increase the risk precocious puberty,

The study, presented at the 62nd annual European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology meeting in Liverpool, is the first to examine the link between blue light, bone growth and pubertal development. “This is the first study to show how blue light can potentially affect physical growth and development,” said Dr. Aylin Kılıç Ugurlu, from Gazi University, Turkey, which calls for further research into the effects of modern screen exposure on children’s development. will lead to.”

While the study was conducted on mice, Dr. Ugurlu shared that it provides valuable insights but cannot yet confirm whether the findings apply to humans. However, data shows that long-term exposure to blue light accelerates physical growth and maturation of the growth plates, potentially leading to early puberty.

During childhood, long bones such as the femur grow and become longer, which determines height. Girls typically reach their full height between the ages of 14 and 16, while boys do so between the ages of 16 and 18. Recent research shows a worrying increase in early puberty for both girls and boys, often linked to environmental factors such as blue light exposure. Early puberty can cause rapid initial growth, but premature bone maturation can lead to short adult stature.

The study examined 18 male and 18 female rats, all 21 days old, divided into three groups. These groups were exposed to different lighting conditions: a normal light cycle, six hours of blue light, or 12 hours of blue light per day. The researchers observed faster growth, especially in bone length, in mice exposed to blue light.

“This means that their bones matured too early, which could potentially cause them to be smaller than average as adults,” Dr. Ugurlu said, noting how blue light can affect children’s development and growth. Emphasized the need for more research to fully understand this. This study underscores the importance of examining the long-term effects of screen exposure on physiological and hormonal changes, urging caution in children’s screen use.

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