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Light pollution is the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light, resulting in adverse effects on the quality of the environment. Since artificial light is created through electricity, which is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, there is an evident connection between air pollution and light pollution. Therefore, controlling light pollution could help reduce air pollution.
Light pollution in different places
The World Atlas of Night Sky Brightness is a computer-generated map based on satellite photographs.
This shows where and how the globe looks when lit up at night. Most parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle-East are glowing at night, whereas there are only a few regions such as Siberia, Sahara and the Amazon that are in complete darkness. Some of the most light-polluted countries are Kuwait, Qatar and Singapore. While air pollution is not very severe in Russia, its capital city, Moscow, is the most light-polluted city today.
What is Skyglow?
Skyglow is the brightening of the night sky due to the use of artificial lights. This is mostly seen in urban areas due to the use of streetlamps, buildings, electric lights of cars, factories, etc. More than 80% of the world’s population live under skyglow.
How does light pollution affect humans?
Even though light pollution may not appear to be as harmful to our health as air or water pollution, it can have many adverse effects. Artificial light can negatively affect human health by increasing the risks of problems like obesity, diabetes, sleeping disorders and even cancers.
According to the American Medical Association, white LED lamps have five times a greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than street lamps. To maintain a good circadian cycle, it is important for a person to spend time outdoors and minimise the amount of artificial light entering their eyes.
People who live in cities with high levels of sky glow have a hard time seeing more than a handful of stars in the night sky. Sky glow pollution reduces the ability of a person to view celestial objects clearly.
Blue light, which is found in mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices, has been shown to reduce the melatonin levels in the body.
Using artificial lights extensively at night can cause problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, headaches and other health problems.
How do we stop light pollution?
Many states have taken the initiative to control outdoor lighting.
High efficiency light sources are being designed to not only save energy but also reduce light pollution.
People must be encouraged to use outdoor lights only when necessary. We must close all window blinds, curtains and shades to keep the light inside.
Works Cited
DarkSky International. (2024). Light pollution affects human health. [online] Available at: https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/effects/human-health/ [Accessed 10 Jul. 2024].
Light pollution | Definition, Causes, Impacts, & Facts | Britannica. (2024). In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/light-pollution [Accessed 10 Jul. 2024].
National Geographic. (2016). Light Pollution. [online] Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/light-pollution/ [Accessed 10 Jul. 2024].
Science On a Sphere. (2016). Light Pollution - Artificial Sky Brightness - Science On a Sphere. [online] Available at: https://sos.noaa.gov/catalog/datasets/light-pollution-artificial-sky-brightness/ [Accessed 27 Jul. 2024].
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