It is time that we should be focusing attention on the harm done by the 24 hour day. Perhaps we should be concerned about how sustainable is our collective future? Medical evidence for this harm, which is being caused to human health, by light at night, is mounting. We are seeing melatonin suppression, caused by too much light at night, reducing our ability to fight cancer.

Children, sleep deprived, are hypertensive, hyperactive and likely to succumb to obesity. Emergency workers like doctors and nurses, who work overly long shifts, risk making poor decisions. Danish women have already been awarded compensation for shift work “causing” breast cancer (2009). The WHO (December 2007) has already declared that shift work is a “possible” carcinogen. And shift work is only possible with light at night, LAN.

The harm to both flora and fauna in the 24 hour day is also increasing. It denies life its natural circadian rhythm, which apparently regulates ALL life forms on Earth. It is not just nocturnal creatures like bats which are suffering a decline. So too are sparrows! Light at night sucks insects to their deaths. Sparrow chicks need insects (just like bats) – without them the chicks just die.

So then, we have light at night, insect decline, potential widespread species decline – all of which go hand in hand with the 24 hour day! We have lived on Earth with many other species for millennia. We have only had the 24 hour day for a few decades.
Light pollution, making it impossible for anyone to see the Milky Way, may well be the least of our problems?

The proceeding is a guest post by Graham Cliff of LightPollution.org.uk.

What follows is a recent Resolution #516 on the need to curtail improper outdoor lighting and rein in light pollution:

Subject: Advocating and Support for Light Pollution Control Efforts and Glare
Reduction for Both Public Safety and Energy Savings

Whereas, Our AMA has long advocated for policies that are scientifically sound and that
positively influence public health policy; and

Whereas, We in the AMA have an opportunity to influence and promote legislation at both the
national and state level on energy savings through a reduction in light pollution; and

Whereas, Light pollution is increasingly recognized as a waste of energy and a public safety
issue; and

Whereas, It has been calculated that over 10 billion dollars in wasted energy could be saved
with the use of full cutoff streetlights; and

Whereas, Emitted glare light is wasted light and accounts for about 40% of the light emitted by
standard streetlights (cobras), it is therefore a significant source of wasted electricity, and this
contributes to excess carbon dioxide production and possibly global warming; and

Whereas, Numerous states (Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine,
Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming), many
municipalities, and several countries have now enacted Light pollution control measures; and

Whereas, Light pollution control legislation is being proposed in Congress; and

Whereas, Streetlight glare causes decreased nighttime visibility by pupil constriction, and thus
leads to diminished nighttime visibility and creates a safety hazard and

Whereas, Many older citizens are significantly affected by glare as the eye ages, leading to
unsafe driving conditions and

Whereas, Glare light is also light trespass and is intrusive and unwanted in households and
dwellings; and

Whereas, Light trespass has been implicated in disruption of the human and animal circadian
rhythm, and strongly suspected as an etiology of suppressed melatonin production, depressed
immune systems, and increase in cancer rates such as breast cancers and

Whereas, Light trespass disrupts nocturnal animal activity and results in diminished various
animal populations’ survival and health therefore be it

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association advocate that all future outdoor lighting be
of energy efficient designs to reduce waste of energy and production of greenhouse gasses that
result from this wasted energy use (New HOD Policy); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA support light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts at
both the national and state levels (New HOD Policy); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA support efforts to ensure all future streetlights be of a fully shielded
design or similar non-glare design to improve the safety of our roadways for all, but especially
vision impaired and older drivers. (New HOD Policy)

You can find the full text and supporting documentation for Resolution #516

A new study has found that chronic disruption of one of the most basic circadian (daily) rhythms — the day/night cycle — leads to weight gain, impulsivity, slower thinking, and other physiological and behavioral changes in mice, similar to those observed in people who experience shift work or jet lag.
The research, presented at Neuroscience 2009, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience is helping scientists better understand the neurobiological mechanisms behind circadian disruptions.
“Our findings have implications for humans,” said lead author Ilia Karatsoreos, PhD, of Rockefeller University. “In our modern industrialized society, the disruption of our individual circadian rhythms has become commonplace, from shift work and jet lag to the constant presence of electric lighting. These disruptions are not only a nuisance, they can also lead to serious health and safety problems,” he said.

If you think about it for a minute, this only makes sense. Humans have evolved over time under the influence of the day/night cycle. Everything about us developed with this as a foundational element of our world. Only recently, with the advent of electric lighting, have we been able to alter this. And, as you can see around you, alter we have. In many areas, it no longer even gets dark at night. True, it’s not as bright as daylight, but the effect of countless unshielded dusk to dawn outdoor lights in many towns and cities prevents it from ever getting truly dark. It seems, that too much of a good thing can be bad. Many people still have not made the mental leap to understand this, however.

For starters, outdoor lighting and other forms of night time illumination should comply with basic lighting guidelines. In a nutshell, light only where, when and in the quantity needed. Sounds simple, right? Well, it is. Unfortunately, looking around the country, it seems that most lighting installations (residential, commercial, governmental) miss the mark completely. No matter where you go, you’ll find outdoor lights that are on when they shouldn’t be. In the day time, when nobody is around, etc. Additionally, many of these lights send a large portion of the light they produce where it’s not needed or wanted. Many ‘decorative’ lights send more light up into the night sky then they put onto the ground beneath them. Even if you’re not an astronomer, this is senseless. This light provides no benefit whatsoever, and yet the cost is just as high as for productive lighting.

Lighting isn’t rocket science, for sure. However, since most of us living today have had electric lighting available to us our entire lives, we think we know all there is to know about it. This just isn’t the case. The thought that if some lighting is good, then more lighting must be better couldn’t be father from the truth. Lighting can be hazardous when used improperly. Both to us and to the creatures we share this planet with. As in many things, a little bit of thought goes a long way. Lights are added to improve visibility. Make sure that you shine light where it will be beneficial and not cause more harm than good. Lights should aimed where activity will occur. Indoors, this means that task lighting should point to your work area. Outdoor lighting should be aimed onto the ground only. This is where people walk and drive. A light shining into your eyes causes glare and reduces your ability to see. If this were inside your home, you’d put a shade on the fixture. The same principals apply outside.

Think before you illuminate!

“The photo, captured above the new elevated station at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in July 2009, is a 20-minute exposure revealing the southern celestial axis — the white cloudy streak is the Milky Way. Only at the North and South Poles will you witness a phenomenon exactly like this, as the stars’ ‘movement’ across the sky demonstrates the Earth’s rotation in stunning detail.”

So why can astronomers view the milky way galaxy so ostensively compared to other places on the planet? Well, the dry cold air found in both the North and South Poles allows cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, i.e. “the afterglow of the big bang”, to pass through or be observed with minimal interference from water vapor. Cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, regarding the electromagnetic spectrum, falls somewhere between heat radiation and radio waves. Even though both Poles could house astronomical equipment, the South Pole has significantly more solid ice to build structures upon, compared to the North Pole. Another boon of housing astronomical equipment in the South Pole lies in the lack of, well, light pollution.

Image Credit: Alamy

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“We have lost the experience of looking at the dark skies because most people live in cities and towns, which are badly affected by light pollution. Some might be able to find the North Star or the Plough but most would be unable to identify any constellations at all. Looking at an unspoilt night sky speaks to something very primitive in us. Astronomy was one of the first instances when human beings encountered something outside their experience and tried to explain it” – Steve Owens, the UK co-ordinator for Unesco’s International Year of Astronomy

Galloway Forest Park, located in Scotland, UK, boasts 300 square miles of diverse terrain. Naturally, astronomers have begun to harness the dark-sky potential found in the park. Consequently, the International Dark-Sky (IDA) has sent representatives out into the park to investigate claims of the darkest and clearest views at night. On the Bortle scale, created by John E. Bortle in 2001 to measure the brightness of the night sky and stars, Galloway falls into (level 3) the Rural Sky category. Here are the complete constituents for the Bortle scale:

“The Bortle scale: Visibility levels
1. Black sky The Milky Way, Scorpius and Sagittarius cast shadows

2. Dark sky Airglow weakly visible near the horizon

3. Rural sky Some light pollution at the horizon

4. Rural/suburban transition Milky Way begins to lose clarity

5. Suburban sky Clouds become brighter than the sky

6. Bright suburban sky The Milky Way is only visible at zenith

7. Suburban/urban transition Sky takes on greyish hue, light sources visible

8. Urban sky Sky glows orange

9/10. Inner city sky Only the moon and planets are visible”

Also, here is a picture to help visually distinguish each level apart from one another:

Image credit: Stellarium.org

Although not classified as Dark or Rural sky, improvements to the nearby hamlet Glentrool, which contains 23 unshielded outdoor lights, would probably help Galloway Forest Park achieve a higher status. After the IDA has conducted its review, the field workers will convene with officials in IDA’s American Headquarters, to determine the status of Galloway Forest Park, along with Hungary’s Hortobagy National Park. Best of luck to both locations!

“Solar-powered LEDs can deliver the solution to three ongoing problems: the cost of municipal (and general) lighting; the pollution generated by powering conventional lighting from fossil-fueled generating plants; and the “dark sky” lighting mandates being passed in community after community as residents realize the dangers to birds, bats, bugs and other wildlife presented by nighttime illumination.”

There’s a new art emerging in New York City: an appreciation for the night sky. Two weeks ago, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts revealed its own LED lighting scheme; public reception has been phenomenal. At the unveiling event, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts informed the public of how much they intend to save each year: “reduce pollution and greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, electricity consumption by 2,700 kilowatt-hours per year (thanks to automated on/off features), and labor costs by virtue of its ease of installation.” It really goes to show that buildings can still retain the similiar ‘night-time’ appearance people have recognized for years with simple, yet effective environmental measures such as shielded lighting, energy efficient lighting and motion sensing lighting, they can retrofit buildings into more environmentally friendly buildings.

“In every corner of the globe tonight, our nighttime sky shines brighter than it did less than 10 years ago with potentially serious consequences to humans, animals and ecosystem.”

“Light pollution has always been a problem for astronomers, and it is increasingly affecting the health and well-being of humans and animals alike by disrupting their circadian rhythm.” Image Credit: stockxchange.com

Nearly every single species on the planet possess an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. The dictionary defines the circadian rhythm as “a daily rhythmic activity cycle, based on 24-hour intervals, that is exhibited by many organisms.” Research examining disruptions in the circadian rhythm have lead researchers to assert that the main culprit, light pollution, causes serious behavioral, physiological and biochemical imbalances. Here are a few of those studies briefly annotated:

* “Light pollution started to be identified in the 1800s when we realized that birds flew into the sides of lighthouses and consequently died” – Travis Longcore, science director of the Urban Wildlands Group, research associate professor at the USC geography department and a lecturer at the UCLA Institute of the Environment in Los Angeles.

* “Twenty years later, it was discovered that artificial coastal lighting in Florida was disorienting and disrupting the rhythm of sea turtles that bury their eggs in the sand.”

* “Light pollution has had disastrous effects on migrating birds resulting in millions dying each year, and that figure increases with the combination of outdoor light and fog.”

* “Women who work at night, change shifts often or don’t get proper sleep at night suppress their melatonin production and have higher rates of breast cancer” – Dr. Mario Motta, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society and associate at the North Shore Cardiovascular Associates.

* “Adults between the ages of 40 to 50 start to notice glare more, when the lens of the human eye begins to harden and calcify. Cataracts may develop, which can exacerbate the glare, and require surgery to remove.”

Light pollution is a glaring (no pun intended) problem; it continues to grow each year. Considering all the environmental problems in the world, it’s a shame that light pollution seems to go unnoticed, even though medical and scientific research suggests the contrary. The real punch to the gut lies in the fact that it is entirely 100% reversible!

Kejimkujik national park lies in Nova Scotia, Canada. The 363-square-kilometre park boasts some of the darkest skies in southern Canada, far away from surrounding urban light pollution. Naturally, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the park rangers have agreed to make Kejimkujik national park an official ‘dark sky preserve.’ So far, both interested parties have started to make the necessary steps to become recognized as a ‘dark sky preserve.’ For instance, the Royal Astronomical Society has admonished the forest rangers to upgrade their lighting fixtures and shield them. One particular point that will help the park achieve ‘dark sky preserve’ status lies in its accessibility to the public. The park itself is open year-round and is near Highway 8. Both parties look forward to each others cooperation and bolstering appreciation for the naked night sky. A three year plan draft to achieve such a status is in the works for the national park and both parties are eager to add Kejimkujik national park as the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s future 7th ‘dark sky preserve.’

Source
Up until now, a more easily deployable and reliable ground based infrared solution has been a technology astronomers have dreamt about. In general, ground infrared astronomy faces two challenges: the earth’s atmosphere naturally radiates it own infrared spectrum that exaggerates the data collected from infrared instruments and ground infrared telescopes can only perceive narrow wavelength ranges because carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere absorbs most of the infrared light. Nearly all astronomy infrared technology exists in the forms of satellites, notably the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Herschel Space Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope, above the earth’s atmosphere. NASA, in conjunction with the German Space Agency, may have a solution. Enter the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a Boeing 747SP housing a 2.5m airborne IR telescope. Capable of reaching an altitude into the upper stratosphere, the SOFIA will be able to rise above 99.8% of the obscuring atmospheric water vapor and offer average transmissions of >80% at the submillimeter spectral regime (0.3μm to 1.6mm wavelength range).

Typical atmospheric transmission (blue) at an altitude of 45,000 feet (left) compared to that on a good night on Mauna Kea (HI, 13,800ft above mean sea level: right). From 1 to 1000μm, the average transmission is ≥80% except in the center of absorption lines of mostly H2O, CO2, and O2. Background image: Spitzer Space Telescope/IR Array Camera false-color image of the Sombrero galaxy. (Courtesy of NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology.)

In addition to providing astronomers a closer look into the infrared spectrum, the SOFIA plane offers what most space telescopes do not have: an easily repairable and upgradable path. Rather than sending astronauts into space to repair or upgrade a satellite, astronomers can simply use the SOFIA plane as a hotbed for the newest experimental technology. Expect to see exciting developments in the near future; SOFIA launches January 2010.