Helena Joyce
Light pollution is a growing problem in New Jersey, with communities being drowned in artificial light. This is not only an issue for stargazers but also for human health and wildlife. Excess light disrupts the sleep-wake patterns of humans, making us more vulnerable to diabetes, weight gain, and depression. It also weakens the immune system. For wildlife, the lack of natural light and darkness patterns can interfere with migration, hunting, feeding, reproduction, and habitat. Light pollution is caused by streetlights, sports fields, stadiums, vehicle lights, and residences, among other sources. While New Jersey has many excellent spots for stargazing, light pollution is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Impact on wildlife | Affects migration, hunting, feeding, reproduction, and habitat of many species |
| Impact on human health | Disrupts sleep-wake patterns, making people more vulnerable to diabetes, weight gain, and depression |
| Impact on plants | Disrupts seasonal rhythms, their ability to sense and react to natural light, and their relationship with pollinators |
| Impact on communities of color | Aggressively bright light is a social justice issue affecting communities of color |
| Impact on astronomy | Makes it hard to see the stars |
| Impact on fireflies | Light pollution has led to a lower firefly population |
| Impact on birds | Light pollution has caused the deaths of many birds during migration |
| Impact on bodies of water | May increase the risk of algae blooms, harming fish and aquatic ecosystems |
| Impact on psychological and recreational enjoyment | Removes access to the psychological and recreational enjoyment of starry night skies |
| Impact on climate change | Contributes to global exploitation and environmental destruction |
| Impact on equality | Light pollution affects communities differently, with varying access to dark skies |
| Impact on safety | Well-directed lighting can increase visibility and safety |
| Impact on energy consumption | Increased use of artificial light consumes more energy |
| Solutions | Dynamic road lighting, intelligent street lamps, community efforts, advocacy, educational initiatives, legislation, and rules promoting efficient lighting |
| Measurement | Bortle scale, light pollution maps, Sky Quality Meter (SQM) |
| Locations with low light pollution in NJ | Wharton State Forest, High Point Monument, Horseshoe Bend, Wawayanda State Park, Bass River State Forest |
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What You'll Learn
Sources of light pollution in New Jersey
New Jersey's communities are struggling with light pollution. The excessive use of artificial light has permeated not only urban but also suburban and rural areas. The primary sources of light pollution in New Jersey include:
Streetlights and Outdoor Lighting
Streetlights and outdoor home lighting, such as lights from buildings, residences, and business signs, contribute significantly to light pollution. These lights are often brighter than necessary, impacting the night sky and disrupting natural patterns.
Sports Fields and Stadiums
Brightly lit sports fields and stadiums are also responsible for light pollution. The intense lighting used in these areas can affect nearby neighbourhoods and disrupt the natural darkness.
Vehicle Lights
Vehicle lights, including cars and other vehicles, add to the overall light pollution in New Jersey. The cumulative effect of numerous vehicle lights can create a glow that makes the night sky brighter.
Parking Areas and Roads
Well-lit parking lots, roads, and bridges contribute to light pollution. While lighting in these areas may be necessary for safety, excessive or inefficient lighting designs can impact the surrounding environment and disrupt the natural darkness.
Billboards and Light "Cannons"
Billboards, light "cannons," and spotlights are additional sources of light pollution. These intense light sources are often used for advertising or event lighting and can shine brightly in various directions, impacting the night sky.
To address light pollution, organisations like the Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter and the International Dark-Skies Association advocate for intelligent and dynamic lighting solutions that balance safety with the preservation of natural nighttime environments. Efforts include promoting efficient outdoor lighting practices and legislation to reduce unnecessary lighting, ensuring residents can reclaim the psychological and recreational benefits of starry night skies.
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Effects on human health
New Jersey's communities are struggling with light pollution. The excessive use of artificial light is not just limited to urban areas but has also seeped into suburban and rural areas. Sources of artificial light include streetlights, parking lots, residences, roads, buildings, bridges, billboards, sports fields, stadiums, and vehicle lights.
Light pollution has a range of negative impacts on human health. Firstly, it disrupts sleep-wake patterns, making individuals more susceptible to diabetes, weight gain, and depression. The American Medical Association has found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is linked to shorter sleep durations, poor sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning, and obesity. This disruption to circadian sleep rhythms is particularly pronounced with white LED lamps, which have five times the impact of conventional street lamps.
Secondly, light pollution can weaken the human immune system. Research has also indicated a potential correlation between light pollution and Alzheimer's disease, although more studies are needed to confirm this relationship.
In addition, there is initial evidence of a link between night work and exposure to artificial light at night with an increased risk of certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has even classified shift work, which often involves exposure to artificial light at night, as a probable human carcinogen.
Lastly, intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and create road hazards, posing safety concerns.
Overall, light pollution has significant adverse effects on human health, and it is important for communities to work towards reducing it and restoring natural nighttime environments.
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Effects on wildlife
Light pollution in New Jersey is a growing problem, with communities experiencing an exponential increase in artificial lighting in urban, suburban, and rural areas. This excessive lighting has harmful effects on both human health and wildlife.
Light pollution can have significant impacts on wildlife, disrupting the natural behaviours and life processes of various creatures, including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, and plants. Here are some of the specific effects:
- Disruption of Natural Cycles: Animals and plants have evolved to rely on the Earth's daily cycle of light and dark to govern essential behaviours. These include feeding, sleeping, hunting, reproduction, and migration. Light pollution can disrupt these cycles, affecting the health and survival of many species.
- Alteration of Nocturnal Environments: Nocturnal animals, which are active at night and sleep during the day, are particularly affected by light pollution. Artificial lighting turns night into day for these creatures, drastically altering their natural environment.
- Impact on Predator-Prey Dynamics: Predators often use light to hunt, while prey species use darkness as cover. Light pollution can expose prey to higher risks of predation, disrupting the natural balance between predator and prey species.
- Attraction to Light Sources: Many animals are instinctively drawn to light sources. This attraction can lead them towards unnatural habitats or dangerous areas, disrupting their natural behaviours and increasing their vulnerability to threats.
- Disruption of Plant Functions: Plants also rely on the light-dark cycle for various processes, including growth and reproduction. Light pollution can interfere with these functions, affecting the health of plant species and, by extension, the ecosystems they support.
- Impact on Migration: Light pollution can disrupt the migratory patterns of birds, butterflies, and other migratory species. It can alter their navigation cues and affect their ability to find suitable habitats during their journeys.
To mitigate these effects, organizations like DarkSky International and the Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter are working to restore natural nighttime environments and advocate for responsible lighting practices that minimize the impact on wildlife.
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Light pollution maps and Dark Sky Parks
New Jersey's communities are suffering from light pollution. The exponential increase in artificial lighting in urban, suburban, and rural areas has led to a brighter night sky, making it difficult to view the stars and disrupting the natural cycles of both humans and wildlife. This issue has sparked community efforts to mitigate light pollution and preserve the night sky through initiatives such as the Light Pollution and Night Skies Committee, which aims to promote efficient outdoor lighting practices.
To find optimal star-viewing locations in New Jersey, individuals can utilize light pollution maps and visit Dark Sky Parks. These maps, updated with satellite images, employ a color-coding system to indicate light pollution levels, with darker areas signifying better stargazing opportunities. New Jersey's state parks, such as the Bass River State Forest, are recommended for their reduced light pollution, offering uninterrupted views of the Milky Way.
Dark Sky Parks are protected areas that actively work to conserve dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program, led by DarkSky International, certifies communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide that meet these criteria. With over 160,000 square kilometers of protected land across 22 countries, Dark Sky Places provide prime locations for stargazing and observing the natural night sky.
In addition to Dark Sky Parks, other designated areas include Reserves, Sanctuaries, and Urban Night Sky Places. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in New Zealand, for instance, combines a national park and a reserve to offer stunning night sky views. These sites are committed to reducing unnecessary lighting, promoting social justice, and restoring the natural nighttime environment for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
By utilizing light pollution maps and visiting Dark Sky Parks, individuals can not only find the best locations for stargazing in New Jersey but also actively contribute to the preservation of dark skies. This collective effort empowers communities to combat light pollution and ensures that future generations can continue to explore and appreciate the wonders of the night sky.
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Legislation and advocacy
New Jersey's communities are suffering from light pollution. The use of artificial light is increasing exponentially, not just in urban but also in suburban and rural areas. Light pollution is harmful to human health and wildlife. Excess light disrupts the sleep-wake patterns of humans, making them more vulnerable to diabetes, weight gain, depression, and a weakened immune system. For wildlife, the lack of natural light and darkness patterns can disrupt feeding, sleeping, hunting, reproduction, and migratory cycles.
The Sierra Club's Light Pollution and Night Skies Committee is working to pass legislation and promote rules that encourage the wise and efficient use of outdoor lighting. The committee shares the goal championed by the International Dark-Skies Association: to restore the natural nighttime environment. They advocate for intelligent, dynamic road lighting that continually adapts to the presence and behavior of drivers and pedestrians. The committee is committed to removing unnecessary lighting that denies residents access to the psychological and recreational enjoyment of starry night skies.
The International Dark-Sky Association website offers many resources on light pollution, including fact sheets, infographics, and brochures. The Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter also provides news and action alerts.
Community efforts, including advocacy and educational initiatives, are crucial in combating light pollution and preserving dark skies. Participating in local astronomy clubs and events can increase awareness and provide guidance for enjoying and preserving New Jersey's night skies.
State Senator Andrew Zwicker has introduced a bill (S3138) that would require state agencies to make commonsense changes to outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, New Jersey communities are suffering from light pollution. The night sky is getting brighter, making it harder to see the stars and affecting the health and well-being of people and wildlife.
Light pollution is the presence of unwanted artificial light in the natural environment. It includes light from streetlights, buildings, billboards, and vehicle lights, among other sources.
Light pollution can disrupt the sleep-wake patterns of people, making them more vulnerable to diabetes, weight gain, and depression. It can also weaken the human immune system. For wildlife, light pollution can interfere with migration, hunting, feeding, reproduction, and other natural behaviours, impacting entire ecosystems.
Community efforts, advocacy, and educational initiatives are crucial in combating light pollution. Organisations like the Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter and the International Dark-Skies Association work to pass legislation, promote wise lighting practices, and raise awareness about the issue. Individuals can also use light pollution maps to find dark sky places for stargazing and support initiatives to preserve New Jersey's night skies.
