Effects of light pollution

Light pollution is quickly becoming more of a problem than many people realize.  But what’s the big deal?  Why is it a problem?  The Wall Street Journal had an article that stated:

Many researchers believe exposure to artificial light disrupts our nighttime production of the hormone melatonin that, among other things, suppresses tumor development. Even two weeks of intermittent nightly light exposure can seriously curtail melatonin production, studies show.

Also included in the article were other interesting discoveries.  Apparently, studies show that women were 73% less likely to develop breast cancer if they lived in a dimly lit neighbourhood.  This not only involves the human race, but wildlife as well.   

Artificial lighting seems to be taking the largest toll on bird populations. Nocturnal birds use the moon and stars for navigation during their bi-annual migrations.

“When they fly through a brightly-lit area, they become disoriented,” said Michael Mesure, executive director of the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), a Toronto-based environmental organization. The birds often crash into brilliantly-lit broadcast towers or buildings, or circle them until they drop from exhaustion.

“Over 450 bird species that migrate at night across North America are susceptible to collisions with night-lit towers, including threatened or endangered species like the cerulean warbler and Henslow’s sparrow,” Mesure said.

Birds are not the only animals that are effected by our use of artificial light.  All animals and insects depend on the night to reproduce, hunt, and sleep.  This keeps with  the rhythm of their lives that’s been bred into them for millions of years.  Some animals that are nocturnal in nature, experience the 24 hour day, throwing off their instincts.  We’ve seen it more and more when animals wander in to the cities at night.  Animals rely on the sun and moon.  So at night, they see lights in the city, and naturally are drawn to what they think is a natural element.

So unless we want to see more animals on the endangered or extinct list, we’d better shut off our lights at night, close the blinds, or do something to resolve or at least minimize this issue.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0417_030417_tvlightpollution.html

http://envirolaw.com/2008/07/27/light-pollution-and-human-health/

http://www.audubonmagazine.org/darksideoflight.html

http://www.cms.int/news/PRESS/nwPR2007/04_Apr/starlight.htm

 

 

— Kristy