Daylight Saving Time Abolishment bill progresses, examining negative impacts on health explained
Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been a part of our lives for over a century, but its usefulness and effects on our well-being are increasingly being questioned.
Recent studies suggest that changes in sleep cycles caused by DST could disrupt fertility, a finding that adds to the growing body of evidence against the practice. This recommendation is not new; experts have been raising concerns about DST for years.
One of the most vocal advocates for ending DST is Senator Ed Markey. He argues that year-round DST would improve public health, public safety, and mental health, particularly during the cold and dark winter months, as we navigate through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sunshine Protection Act, proposed by Senator Markey and others, aims to make DST permanent and end the biannual clock changes. Interestingly, Florida has already passed a law similar to the Sunshine Protection Act in 2018.
However, not everyone is in favour of this change. Chronobiologists argue that the time shift in DST has negative effects on human bodies and brains. They claim that it disrupts our internal clocks, leading to a variety of health issues, including an increase in medical errors due to sleep-deprived healthcare workers, as found by the Mayo Clinic.
Other experts point to increased traffic accidents in the first Monday after the shift in DST as another reason to reconsider its continuation.
The debate over DST is not limited to the medical community. Politicians, comedians, and even cows have joined in. Veep has mocked DST, while John Oliver has done persuasive segments on the topic. Even cows, it seems, are affected by DST, with some studies suggesting that it makes them depressed.
States like Massachusetts have begun to question the existence of DST, with at least 15 other states having rubber-stamped similar laws and resolutions. A group of bipartisan U.S. legislators has reintroduced a bill to end the pendulum swing of DST forever.
Despite the ongoing debate, the final call on the Sunshine Protection Act must be made at the federal level. As we move forward, it's clear that the lingering legacy of DST extends beyond just the clock on our walls, reaching into our homes, our health, and our lives.
One thing is certain: the song "Yellow" will continue to be a memorable, if unwelcome, companion every time DST rolls around.
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