Helena Joyce
Light pollution is a global issue that has detrimental effects on human health, wildlife, and the environment. It is caused by the excessive and improper use of artificial outdoor lighting, such as street lamps, roadway lighting, and exterior lights on buildings. This lighting is often poorly designed, allowing light to shine outward and upward into the sky instead of focusing it downward where it is needed. The light pollution produced by these sources can have far-reaching consequences, impacting the naturallightscapes, the migration patterns of birds and sea turtles, and the sleep habits of both humans and animals. With growing awareness of the problem, there are efforts to reduce light pollution through the adoption of shielded lights, less powerful bulbs, and initiatives like the Lights Out program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sources | Streetlights, vehicles, buildings, boats, fireworks, greenhouses, satellites, neon signs, illuminated signboards, exterior lights, street lamps, shopping mall lights, parking lot lights |
| Effects | Circadian rhythm disruption, melatonin production disruption, migration pattern disruption, wake-sleep habit disruption, habitat formation disruption, reproduction disruption, nourishment disruption, protection disruption, sleep disruption, waste of energy resources, negative economic effects, reduced night sky visibility, harmful effects on humans, wildlife and the environment |
| Causes | Poor lighting design, unshielded lights, upward-facing lights, overuse of lights, light clutter, glare, light trespass, over-illumination, skyglow |
| Solutions | Shielded lights, downward-facing lights, less powerful lamps or bulbs, public education, adoption of "Lights Out" programs during bird migration, local legislation, upgrade or replacement of outdoor lighting with more sustainable solutions |
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What You'll Learn
Poor lighting design
Firstly, it allows artificial light to shine outward and upward into the sky instead of focusing it downward where it is needed. This upward light emission is a primary cause of light pollution, as the light reflects off particles in the atmosphere and scatters back towards the Earth's surface, creating a dome-like cover of light known as "skyglow." This phenomenon not only reduces night sky visibility but also wastes energy and disrupts the natural circadian rhythms of humans and animals, affecting their sleep-wake cycles and overall health.
Secondly, poor lighting design often results in light trespass, where unwanted light enters areas such as neighbouring properties or natural habitats. This intrusion of artificial light can confuse nocturnal animals, disrupt their migration patterns, reproduction, and feeding behaviours, and even lead to their death, as seen in the case of sea turtle hatchlings disoriented by bright city lights.
Additionally, poor lighting design can lead to glare, causing excessive brightness and visual discomfort, especially when driving. It also contributes to light clutter, where multiple lights placed close together create high-contrast areas with dark shadows, further impacting visibility and the overall aesthetics of an area.
Moreover, poorly designed lighting fixtures may be overly bright, improperly shielded, or unshielded, emitting light upwards. This misdirected light not only contributes to light pollution but also wastes electricity, as the light is scattered upwards instead of being focused on the intended objects or areas. Upward-facing lights in roadway lighting are a significant concern, with an estimated 35% to 50% of light pollution attributed to this source.
To mitigate these issues, it is essential to implement better lighting design practices. This includes utilizing shielded lights or full cut-off fixtures that direct all light downward, reducing the amount of light pollution. Employing less powerful lamps or bulbs and ensuring proper positioning of lights can also minimize light pollution while improving visibility, safety, and energy efficiency.
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Roadway lighting
Light trespass, or obtrusive lighting, is a major issue with roadway lighting. It can be caused by spill light, which falls outside the intended area and can be measured in lux in the vertical plane. Glare, which is light viewed directly at the source, reducing visibility, is another common problem. Sky glow, caused by light reflected from the source, road, or other surfaces into the atmosphere, reduces the visibility of the night sky and can confuse nocturnal animals and migrating birds and insects.
To reduce light trespass, thoughtful design and the use of luminaires with cut-off or full cut-off optical systems are necessary. Full cut-off optics reduce skyglow, spill lighting, and veiling luminance (glare), improving overall visibility. The selection of less powerful lamps or bulbs can also help minimize light pollution, improving visibility, safety, energy efficiency, and aesthetics.
However, balancing the reduction of light trespass with the need for adequate roadway lighting to ensure safety can be challenging. Peripheral vision, visibility of crossroads, driveways, and sidewalks, and the detection of large animals are all improved by lighting adjacent areas, but this can also contribute to light trespass.
The European Union has adopted new guidance for roadway lighting installations, aiming to reduce light pollution and skyglow. While it is an improvement, there is a tension between light pollution concerns and cost considerations, and the guidance relies on high illumination levels that may not be necessary for public safety.
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Over-illumination
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It is the presence of any unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting. Over-illumination is a form of light pollution that involves the use of excessive light where it is not needed. This can include the use of too many lights, bright lights, or lights that are left on for extended periods.
There are several negative consequences of over-illumination. Firstly, it can lead to increased energy consumption and waste, as well as economic costs. It is estimated that outdoor lighting consumes about 3 to 5 percent of electrical demand in developed countries, and a single light can be disruptive to the natural lightscape.
Secondly, over-illumination can have harmful effects on human health and well-being. Medical research suggests that excessive light exposure can lead to increased headaches, worker fatigue, medically defined stress, decreased sexual function, increased anxiety, and potentially other mental and physical health issues. The disruption of natural light cycles and circadian rhythms can also impact sleep and contribute to disorders such as insomnia and depression.
Additionally, over-illumination can have ecological impacts. It can confuse and disorient animals, affecting their migration, reproduction, hunting, and feeding behaviours. For example, sea turtle hatchlings instinctively move towards the brightest light, which naturally would be the starlight reflecting off the ocean. But with coastal cities illuminating the night sky, the hatchlings become disoriented and move towards the cities, leading to dehydration, predation, and a failure to reach the safety of the ocean.
Finally, over-illumination can contribute to the loss of cultural practices and ancient knowledge. The bright skies caused by light pollution obscure the view of the stars, impacting storytelling, stargazing, and celestial navigation. This can lead to a sense of grief over the loss of the sense of awe and wonder that stargazing provides, as well as the loss of cultural identity associated with these practices.
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Light trespass
If you are experiencing light trespass, the first step is to directly contact the responsible party, which is usually obvious—a neighbour, a small business owner, etc. Many people are not aware that their lighting is causing a problem, and there are often several ways to resolve light trespass, such as adjusting light fixtures or using more appropriate light bulbs.
It is important to remain open to all solutions and work together with the responsible party to find a resolution that works for everyone. Legal action is generally not advised, as it can create bad feelings in the neighbourhood. Instead, resources like DarkSky International provide guidance and sample letters to help neighbours resolve light trespass issues amicably.
To prevent light trespass, it is recommended to use shielded lights, or full cut-off lights, which direct all light downward and only illuminate the necessary area. This not only reduces light trespass but also improves visibility, safety, energy efficiency, and aesthetics.
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Impact on wildlife
Light pollution is a result of the world's ever-increasing reliance on outdoor electrical lights. It is a human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. Cities account for most light pollution due to the excessive use of unshielded and improperly coloured lights that send light upward into the sky. Even a single light source can be disruptive to the natural lightscape and confuse nocturnal animals, migrating birds, and insects.
Light pollution has a drastic impact on wildlife, altering their natural environment and disrupting their daily cycles. The introduction of artificial light represents a significant change to the nocturnal ecosystem, affecting the behaviour of both predators and prey. Predators, such as foxes, are attracted to lit areas in search of easy prey, while prey species rely on darkness for cover.
Insects, such as moths, are drawn to artificial lights, creating a fatal attraction that leads to their exhaustion or becoming easy prey for predators. This decline in insect populations negatively impacts other species that depend on them for food or pollination.
Amphibians, such as frogs and toads, are also affected by light pollution. Their nocturnal croaking is part of their breeding ritual, and artificial lights disrupt this behaviour, interfering with reproduction and reducing their populations.
Migratory birds are another casualty of light pollution. Disoriented by lights, many birds collide with buildings, leading to their deaths.
Some species of fish, such as juvenile salmon, are attracted to patches of water lit by bridge or street lights, making them vulnerable to predators like herons.
Overall, light pollution has far-reaching consequences for wildlife, disrupting their natural behaviours, reproduction, and survival. It alters their nighttime environment, affecting their ability to navigate, feed, and reproduce successfully.
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Frequently asked questions
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally.
Common sources of light pollution include street lamps, parking lot/shopping mall lights, exterior lights found on most homes/businesses, neon signs, illuminated signboards, vehicles, and boats.
Light pollution has been shown to impact animal behaviours, such as migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation. It also affects the human biological clock, disrupting the body's melatonin production.
Light pollution can be reduced by using shielded lights, also known as full cut-off lights, which direct all light downward. Additionally, using less powerful lamps or bulbs and reducing the number of lights can help minimize light pollution.
