Many people think that light pollution is just a problem for astronomers. They think that since they don’t own a telescope, they are unaffected by the problem. This is simply not true. Light pollution is a problem that affects us all. Typically, people are not even aware of it. But, that doesn’t reduce its affect one bit.
Light pollution wastes incredible sums of money nation wide. While the cost to the typical homeowner might be in the $150-250 range per year the cost to the nation is approaching $10 billion annually. This is an absurdly large amount of money to waste. Diseases could be studied, the hungry could be fed, our nations children could be better educated.
Light pollution wastes incredible amounts of energy, energy that our nation simply does not have. It is largely for this reason that young men and women in our military risk their lives in the Middle East. They protect our access to energy. The very least we can do is use it wisely.
Light pollution pollutes our environment. By wasting electricity, we force our utility companies to consume more energy and therefore emit more toxins into the environment. How many of you have, or know someone who has a lung ailment. Many respiratory problems are caused by or intensified by these airborne toxins. According to The Mayo Clinic, there are a number of factors which may increase the chances of developing asthma. High on their list was exposure to environmental pollutants. As if this wasn't bad enough, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that death rates rose with increasing levels of particulate matter. This is probably not a surprise to anyone, but... to hear this from some of the world's premier medical researchers just drives the point home. And, a recent study published by the American Cancer Society entitled "Air Pollution Linked to Deaths From Lung Cancer" concluded that "every reduction in air pollution will likely lower death rates".
Light pollution itself is a threat to human health. Recent studies by the nations medical researchers indicate that light at night interferes with our body’s immune system. A study published by The Journal of Neuroscience discusses how light shining into your bedroom can disrupt the circadian rhythm, your bodies internal clock. There are even links between light pollution and certain forms of cancer, including breast cancer. In an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute entitled "Night Shift Work, Light at Night, and Risk of Breast Cancer" researchers found that "Exposure to light at night may increase the risk of breast cancer by suppressing the normal nocturnal production of melatonin...." They went on to state that "There was an indication of increased risk among subjects with the brightest bedrooms."
Light pollution is a threat to wildlife. It’s true. Many types of wildlife are simply unable to cope with such disruption of their nighttime environments. For example, did you know that millions of migratory birds die each year because of light pollution? It's true. They rely on the stars to navigate. When they fly over light polluted areas, they lose their sense of direction. Many fly until exhaustion and die. How about sea turtles? Did you know that sea turtle hatchlings look for the moon to guide them to the safety of the ocean? Many sea turtle hatchlings are attracted to the bright lights of nearby developments and end up being run over by cars.
So if you think light pollution only hurts astronomers, you are dead wrong. Sure, light pollution robs us of beautiful star filled skies, but… it also hurts every man, woman, child and creature on this planet. If there were benefits to light pollution, it might be a judgment call as to whether the benefits outweighed the costs. But… since light pollution produces absolutely no benefit to society and only costs, it should be an absolute no-brainer.
Would you like to do something to address these problems? It’s simple.
Turn your lights off when they’re not needed. For most people, this means most of the time.
Do you receive guests each and every night? If not, don’t automatically turn your lights on each night.
Do you receive guests in the wee hours? If not, don’t leave your lights on all night.
If you’re going out, you don’t need to turn every single exterior light on.
Also, consider using lower wattage bulbs. You might be surprised that you can see quite well with 40 or 60-watt bulbs instead of 100 watt bulbs.
If your building or renovating, install only full cut-off fixtures. They ensure that all the light produced by the fixture ends up on the ground where it's needed. This has the added benefit of allowing you to use lower wattage bulbs.
Install motion detectors. These allow you to have an increased sense of security while at the same time consuming substantially less energy.
Every little bit helps.
Checkout the Light Pollution Section of the Utah Skies website at www.UtahSkies.org for more information on the harmful effects of improper lighting or for ideas on how to improve your lighting. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
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