Artificial light pollution
Depleting natural resources and
degradation of the environment is a primary contemporary preoccupation of
environmentalists today. Air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, ozone
depletion, green house effect are issues we are familiar with. A relatively new concern is that of Light
pollution.
For the past few years environmentalists have been
researching on the harmful effects of light pollution. This is a phenomenon now
fairly common in the cities of developed nations of the world. Changing lifestyles,
shifts in workplace demands of both customers and retailers, are some of the
reasons that have led to the presence of a fairly active night life which
consequently poses demands on artificial light requirements. This is the
primary cause for Light Pollution.
How and when does Light
Pollution occur?
When excessive artificial lighting
enters the night sky, it gets reflected off air borne water particles and water
droplets. This causes a condition call sky glow. Light pollution is caused by
glare from light fixtures that are not appropriately shielded or directed. The
bright light gets directed into driver’s eyes. The result is night time visual
impairment which jeopardizes road safety. Unshielded bright light often crosses
over property lines and can glare into our private space. This is an annoying
abuse of space and is known as Light trespass.
Harmful
effects of Light Pollution
Just how significant the harmful effect of this artificially
lit night skies is, has been studied by environmentalists. The indication for
dangerously high levels of artificially lit night sky is the reduced visibility
or complete non-visibility of stars. What harm this can do to life on earth
must be understood in order to appreciate the seriousness of the matter.
Light pollution has been found to affect both flora and
fauna. Researchers claim that artificial lighting can directly cause harm to
migrating or moving habitat of animals. Animals get confused by the artificial
lighting and are often misguided to heading for destinations that are no
theirs. For example, baby turtles along the beaches of North America; usually
travel back to the sea at night by following the reflections of the natural
night sky in the sea water. However with stream-lined beach lights all along the
coast, the baby turtles end up moving towards land. As a result they either
come under the wheels of moving vehicles or get baked in the heat when the
morning sun comes up. Similar events have been found to occur with other
animals as well.
Effect of Light
Pollution on human beings
As for human beings research shows that we are victims of
light pollution too. The human body has a 24-hour circadian rhythm for which
the phase of natural darkness is essential. This circadian rhythm gets
disturbed by artificial night light which reduces the natural darkness phase to
ignorable levels. The hormone melatonin is known to be released in sufficient
quantities only in Natural darkness undisturbed by artificial night light. The
hormone melatonin has a significant role to play as it releases
anti-depressants and relaxants into the blood. These substances are necessary
for the human body to function effectively through the sun-lit day.
Over all the humongous electricity wastage that occurs will
in turn release additional greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere which will
contribute to global warming.
The
solution
Judicious uses of artificial night
lights which are correctly shielded and rightly directed are important. Lights
must be aimed at the required area (respecting privacy of space) and care must
be taken to avoid light from unnecessarily entering the sky.
Environmentalists are thus seriously
concerned over issues of light pollution affecting both animal and man. They
are advocating the introduction of reduced and appropriate lighting for the
night. Canada has an exclusive area declared as environmentally protected zone.
Here artificial lighting of the night sky is strictly prohibited for across a
fairly large area. So here one can look up at the night sky and see thousands
of stars shining up above………a beauty that most city dwellers of developed
nations have lost out on.
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