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Lighting Cons: A Guide to Light Pollution
Light pollution involves the unwanted accumulation of artificial light in the
night skies, especially above densely populated urban areas. Light pollution
occurs when humans construct artificial light structures that continually beam
in their nearby environments. Environmentalists contend that the unnecessary use
of artificial light has impacted the planet negatively. Light pollution
manifests itself in several identifiable types, including sky glow, light
trespass, and over-illumination. In recent decades, educational institutions,
governmental agencies, and supporting organizations have come together to
enforce regulations, laws, and safety codes to minimize the use of artificial
light. Many light pollution proponents agree that artificial light contributes
towards the safety of city residents; however, a large portion of office
buildings, strip malls, sporting venues, and night clubs abuse their lighting.
As a result, proponents have launched awareness campaigns to mitigate the
unnecessary abuse of artificial light in commercial and residential
establishments.
The Types of Light Pollution
Light pollution manifests itself in many different ways, including light
trespassing, glare, clutter, energy waste, over-illumination, and urban sky
glow. Light trespass occurs when artificial light shines from an unshielded
fixture intended to illuminate the ground, but casts light into the night sky.
Unshielded lighting fixtures wastes light and money. In addition, unshielded
fixtures can compromise visibility for drivers, which can cause serious
automobile accidents. Bright glare also produces shadows, which become hiding
places for criminals. In metropolitan areas, companies pay to advertise their
goods and services on billboards illuminated with bright flashing lights. These
light sources can cause problems for pilots. Astronomers complain about urban
sky glow, or artificial lights obstructing their view of nearby galaxies,
planets, nebula, and stars.
The Effects of Light Pollution
Researchers have discovered that light pollution carries multiple adverse health
effects on the human body. For instance, over-illumination tends to increase the
frequency of headaches, worker fatigue, decreased sexual function and desire,
increased anxiety, and stress. Artificial light also produces severe effects on
alertness and mood. Studies have attributed light pollution as a major cause in
circadian and hormonal disruption by suppressing the body's ability to produce
melatonin. Light pollution also increases the chance of people getting into
automobile accidents. Not only does light pollution hurt the human body, it
disrupts entire ecosystems, especially nocturnal wildlife. Biologists have noted
that artificial light confuses animal navigation, alters interactions among
other animals in the wild, and changes predator-prey relations. Studies also
suggest that light pollution prevents zoo-plankton growth around lakes, which
affects species that thrive on algae. Light pollution also obstructs the
nighttime view of the nearby solar system, galaxies, nebula, and stars.
Prevention and Solutions
Proponents against light pollution suggest that governmental, commercial, and
residential establishments need to work together to reduce unnecessary
artificial light exposure. The main problem lies with unshielded lighting
fixtures, especially street lamps. City ordinances need replace outdated street
lamps with fully shielded sodium lights. Commercial owners can reduce their
overall light consumption by turning off their lights when everybody leaves the
building, or moderately shinning lights on billboards. Residential owners can
replace their light structures with lower wattage bulbs, and turning off their
lights when they go to sleep at night.
Professional Organizations and Associations
Many organizations and associations have launched public awareness campaigns to
reduce the impact of light pollution. Many have devised solutions and devices
that will help control light pollution, while still providing the necessary
artificial light sources to all of the local business establishments. Artificial
light has its perks; however, it has proven to cause detrimental effects in
areas that tend to abuse it.
Retrieved from http://www.affordablelamps.com/lighting-cons-a-guide-to-light-pollution.html on October 8, 2012
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