A numerical model for quantifying exposure to natural and artificial light in human health research

Various skin and ocular pathologies can result from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and blue light. Assessing the potential harm of exposure to these light sources requires quantifying the energy received to specific target tissue. Despite a well-established understanding of the light-disease relationship, the quantification of received energy in diverse lighting scenarios proves challenging due to the multitude of light sources and continuous variation in the orientation of receiving tissues (skin and eyes). This complexity makes the determination of health hazards associated with specific lighting conditions difficult. In this study, we present a solution to this challenge using a numerical approach. Through the implementation of algorithms applied to 3D geometries, we created and validated a numerical model that simulates skin and ocular exposure to both natural and artificial light sources. The resulting numerical model is a computational framework in which customizable exposure scenarios can be implemented. The ability to adapt simulations to different configurations for study makes this model a potential investigative method in human health research.