Glare light scattering in the eye causes loss of contrast, sometimes blinds you temporarily and leads to unsafe driving conditions, for instance. Glare from unshielded lighting is a public-health hazard-especially the older you become. Going further… Three Main Types of Light PollutionĬlinically speaking, *three main types of light pollution include glare, light trespass and skyglow (in addition to over-illumination and clutter). The good news is that light pollution can be reduced fairly easily by shielding lights properly, by only using light when and where it is needed, by only using the amount that is needed, by using energy efficient bulbs, and by using bulbs with appropriate spectral power distributions for the task at hand.Įxplore the effects of light pollution on the night sky with Light Pollution Interactive. Energy wastage is also a waste in cost and carbon footprint. Over illumination can constitute energy wastage, especially upward directed lighting at night. With respect to energy wastage, lighting is responsible for at least one-fourth of all electricity consumption worldwide. (See text below.) Health effects are not only due to over-illumination or excessive exposure of light over time, but also improper spectral composition of light ( e.g., certain colors of light). There are also effects of glare on aging eyes. And ties are being found to a couple of types of cancer. This can lead to sleep disorders and other health problems such as increased headaches, worker fatigue, medically defined stress, some forms of obesity due to lack of sleep and increased anxiety. If humans are exposed to light while sleeping, melatonin production can be suppressed. With respect to adverse health effects, many species, especially humans, are dependent on natural body cycles called circadian rhythms and the production of melatonin, which are regulated by light and dark (e.g., day and night). The rhythm of life is orchestrated by the natural diurnal patterns of light and dark so disruption to these patterns impacts the ecological dynamics. It can confuse the migratory patterns of animals, alter competitive interactions of animals, change predator-prey relations, and cause physiological harm. In disrupting ecosystems, light pollution poses a serious threat in particular to nocturnal wildlife, having negative impacts on plant and animal physiology. How do you explain the importance of what they’ve lost to light pollution? How can you make them aware that light pollution is a concern on many fronts: safety, energy conservation, cost, health and effects on wildlife, as well as our ability to view the stars? Finally, how do you convince them that it’s worthwhile to take even small steps, to help fix this problem? Effects of Light Pollution With more than half of the world’s population now living in cities, 3 out of every 4 people in cities have never experienced the wonderment of pristinely dark skies. We are also losing touch with what could inspire future generations. By allowing artificial lights to wash out our starry night skies, we are losing touch with our cultural heritage (e.g., what has made us who we are). Being able to see thousands of stars was part of everyday life, inspiring artists like Van Gogh or musical composers like Holst or writers like Shakespeare. IntroductionĪ little more than 100 years ago, you could walk outside at night even in a city and see the Milky Way galaxy arch across the night sky. Too much light pollution has consequences: it washes out starlight in the night sky, interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health effects and wastes energy. Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial (usually outdoor) light.
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