Light Pollution Affects Us All
Light Pollution. You�ve heard about the phenomenon and have even begun to understand the destructive and obstructive consequences it has on the environment and night sky. You may have been affected by light trespass caused by that blinding flood light in your neighbor�s back yard that comes on every time the wind blows. But as far as you are concerned, the only impact light pollution has imposed on you is a minor inconvenience and a feeling of disappointment every time you look to the sky. If that is not enough for you to take action against light pollution, maybe taking a closer look at the toll light pollution is taking on your body, mind and spirit will change your mind.
Light pollution has been linked to a number of conditions and illnesses including depression, sleep deprivation, near sightedness, high blood pressure, and breast cancer. The human body relies on a biological clock that operates on a 24 hour cycle synchronized with the rise and fall of the sun. Studies show that disruptions in the circadian rhythm such as a nocturnal work shift, can have adverse effects on the human body. Exposure to light at inappropriate times of the day can lead to conditions such as near-sightedness and sleep deprivation. Disrupting the normal sleeping cycle affects the natural body functions and productions that occur during REM. Such functions include the production of antibodies, the distribution of blood through out the body and the production of melatonin. Being exposed to artificial light at night has unfavorable psychological effects on the body which can weaken the body’s immunity system and disrupt the natural chemistries of blood and urine. Melatonin protects the body against hormone based cancers, most commonly, breast cancer. Disruptions in the production of melatonin occur when sleeping in a room that sits in the path of a street light or is constantly having cars beam lights in the window. The link between light pollution and breast cancer is being researched more in depth and could become a breakthrough in understanding the causes and cures of breast cancer in the near future.
Fluorescent lighting, common in public schools and in the workplace, also have unexpected effects on the human body and spirit. Fluorescent lighting is bright and intrusive lighting that can have harmful affects when one is exposed to for eight hours a day five days a week. Fluorescent lighting has been linked to work-related stress and high blood pressure. Studies show that those who are exposed to fluorescent lighting for extended periods of time on average measure at least 8 points higher in blood pressure than those who are not. Fluorescent lighting has been linked to depression and vision problems in school age children as well. Studies also show that those children who sleep with night lights are more likely to develop vision problems and sleep deprivation than those who sleep in darkness.
Presently, excessive lighting has not shown any positive effects on humans or the environment. In fact more and more scientists and health care professionals are becoming aware of the dangerous affects light pollution has on humans. Because light pollution is a fairly new problem, the long term affects of light pollution are still unknown. Unfortunately, society has learned to depend on artificial light and that dependence would take years of struggle to overcome. Starry Night Lights can help you make informed decisions about which light fixtures or light bulbs to purchase and where and when to use them. Your home can be safely lit and still be light pollution free with the right combinations of lights. However, until more light is shed on how dangerous light pollution can be in the long run, it is better to do the best we can to make sure we have a good, dark night�s sleep.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 17th, 2007 at 3:13 pm and is filed under Starry Night Lights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
10 Responses to “Light Pollution Affects Us All”
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September 25th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
You can learn even more about light pollution and its “hidden” devastating effects at this web site
http://www.lightpollution.org.uk
Learn that LP kills bugs. Good you might say - we can sit out at night and not be irritated. But bugs are at the base of the food chain.
Without insects to eat higher order animals will go into decline. Flora will suffer because of fewer insect to pollinate flowers. A vicious circle of decline. But no-one cares. By the time they do care it will be ” just too late”!
September 26th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
The situation regarding light pollution has now got out of hand, so something must be done to redress the balance and reverse current trends. We need to overcome this culture that promulgates urban myths that state more and brighter lights = greater security and less crime. It simply isn’t true. As the above web-site has pointed out, it now has health implications, being culpable in a wide range of common conditions. That being the case, its elimination can only be of benefit to us all.
November 29th, 2007 at 7:28 am
light pollution is a very serious problem that is being faced by d world. it has a devastating affect on our lives n must be dealt with, as soon as possible.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:14 am
What of government mandated fluorescent lighting? Not only will we be suffering the deleterious health effects of this harsh and unnatural form of illumination -we will be subject to light pollution and doses of mercury toxicity in landfills.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
With light pollution worsening each year, it amazes me how/why humans choose to live in perpetual “daylight” 24/7/365. It drives me nuts!
I recall the dark skies of my youth - a few decades ago. During the 50’s and 60’s, and less than a half-mile from our small city, my friends and I could see uncounted stars from the zenith to the horizon, but now even the brightest constellations are washed out by bright skies. So not only do we have tremendous waste of energy and natural resources, but we’re also losing mankind’s oldest cultural heritage, the dark night sky.
Regaining our view of the Universe is easy; the problem is that not many people in power will listen to the simple solutions. Frustrating!
March 30th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Hey I’m only 14 and I was just look this up for my sicence fair project and it’s amazing how many young people don’t know that light is hurting everything around them and them selfs if they knew this stuff the would probly get more involved so I’ll tell all my firends what I’ve learned!
Maybe you should try to get it as a lesson in school for us kids!!!
March 30th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Hi
We have done light pollution talks in the local Park City area schools. Kids get it…. even adults get it.
Unfortunately, what people understand… and what they’re willing to do something about are often two different things.
Many people want to see the worlds problems fixed. They recognize the problems… and would love to see them addressed…. as long as it doesn’t require them to make any changes in their lives.
Hopefully, we’ll leave your generation… and future generations… a planet that is still a wonderful place to live
Thanks for checking in!
Anthony
June 9th, 2008 at 6:11 am
great article, very few are aware that light ie artificial light also effects of our health adversely.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Wow this is really depressing. Just goes to show that every cause has an affect, we’re just usually oblivious.
I hope that my generation can deal with this problem, among the millions of others the past generation dumped on us. Gee thanks.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hi Cali
Very encouraging, huh?
I wish I could say that the current leaders were concerned more about leaving things better for future generations than what they inherited. Unfortunately, it seems like the plan is to fleece the planet and let future inhabitants (you guys) fend for yourselves.
That said, there are many people working to educate the public and our leaders on the issues that need to be dealt with. We do seem to be making slow progress on a number of fronts.
Starry Night Lights has been working hard to reign in light pollution from improper and typically excessive outdoor lighting. This, at least from a technical perspective, is an easy problem to address. Simply point the lights down to the ground and turn them off when not absolutely needed and the problem would virtually disappear. From a human perspective, however, the problem is far more challenging. Many people are afraid of the dark. Others think they’re safer with brighter lights and still others think that glaring lights are a sign of ‘progress’ and ‘prosperity’.
The is much education that must take place so that we can live sustainably on our beautiful little planet.
Anthony