Light pollution causes and effects
Artificial light has become a special necessity in our daily life today. All the technical means of the present era, such as smartphones, lap, television, laptop, car, bike light, etc. depend on artificial light. Today, the whole world is blindly exploiting almost all the resources of nature in the desire for material comforts.
Physical facilities have made human life simple, but along with the serious pollution of our environment, water sources, and vital and protective natural sources like our soil, the direct and indirect consequences of global warming have not only affected human life almost.
It has seriously affected all aspects, rather has brought the beautiful earth to the brink of destruction. We are well aware of the catastrophic hazards caused by environmental, water, air, soil, and noise pollution. In this episode of modern progress, the presence of light pollution has also been recorded.
Like the well-to-do cities of elite countries of the world, the metropolitan cities of India also get drenched in bright lights in the evening. It is said that the city of Mumbai never sleeps, that is, human activities continue uninterrupted throughout the night like during the day.
More or less the same is the condition of other metros and prosperous cities of India. The glare of bright lights makes the city attractive, but the same 4 lights have started harming the lives of humans, birds, and wild, aquatic, and amphibious animals, much faster and more than necessary.
Like other types of pollution, light pollution has also started adversely affecting the regular activities of animals, birds, and other living beings on Earth. At one time artificial lighting was limited only to cities, today with increasing prosperity in the world, rural areas as well as long roads leading to destinations far from cities are illuminated at night.
what is light pollution?
artificial energy in the form of electricity has an important contribution to the process of progress and development of a country. Today, not only small and big cities, most of the rural areas are illuminated with electric light.
Four-five decades ago, it was a wonderful experience to gaze at the stars in the open sky at night.
Today this situation has almost changed even in the villages. That is, due to the dazzling lights of cities and villages and the lights of vehicles, light pollution can be considered as the reason behind not being able to see the twinkling stars in the open sky at night with their earlier beauty.
The deep dark night adapts to the routine of wildlife including bats, migratory birds, and insects. On the contrary, light pollution affects human health as well as affects almost all the activities of these wildlife, animals, and birds.
For millions of years, the entire life of the earth and day and night depend on the cycle of light and darkness.
Trees are responsible for the existence, development, and growth of plants. Photosynthesis i.e. photosynthesis process is dependent on light and darkness only.
All the creatures and animals of this earth are dependent on plants to maintain their existence. Naturally available light is absolutely beneficial for animals and plants, but artificial light used in the pursuit of material comforts has started adversely affecting the animals, plants, and animals present on the earth.
The activities of insects, birds, and other animals are hampered due to the interruption of the process of photosynthesis by unnecessary light. . de Miguel and colleagues from the Environment and Sustainability Institute in Cornwall in the United Republic of America (United Kingdom).
According to him, undue light pollution has not only become a global problem but is also getting worse from bad to worse.
light pollution effects
Like animals and birds, human health is also not untouched by the effects of light pollution. Studies on the effects of artificial light on human health have shown that the sleep cycle is disrupted by affecting the body’s biological clock.
Not only this, according to a study published in the journal Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (2016), there is a possibility of cancer of important organs such as the lungs, breast, colorectal, and prostate under the influence of artificial light.
According to this research paper, in the year 2012, 14.1 million people in the world were suffering from cancer, in which 82 lakh people lost their lives due to cancer in the same year.
However, many other known factors responsible for cancer must have been responsible for these figures.
Conditions such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables are responsible for developing cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
On the other hand, in high-income countries, conditions like alcohol consumption, smoking, and obesity have an important role in developing cancer.
Apart from these, indoor and outdoor conditions such as air pollution, and soil and water contamination also increase the risk of developing cancer in organs such as the lungs, esophagus, mouth and throat, blood, skin, bladder, liver, intestine, kidney, breast, and prostate.
are known for. However, scientists believe that the disruption of the human iridium rhythm has a greater role in the development of cancer. More recently, an association between light pollution and breast cancer has been reported in studies on workers exposed to artificial light for long periods at night, in which melatonin may have a mediating role between the environment and the epigenome.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the availability of pure drinking water, food items, and herbal medicines in protected areas like wildlife habitats, forests, and national parks not only provides protection from natural calamities but also protects the climate.
It is also helpful in coping with change. Research studies point to the risk of developing various cancers from artificial light pollution in all protected areas of the world.
Today, due to the increasing industrialization and urbanization around the world, it has become natural for the continuous increase of human activities at night.
Is. The human iridium system is being disrupted under the influence of artificial light. A very large population of the world needs nocturnal essential services.
light pollution solutions
• According to the International Dark Sky Association, light pollution can be prevented and reduced by adopting some measures-
• Use of light only when necessary and as dim as possible
Let’s do it.
• Light intensity can be controlled with modern devices like dimmers, timers, and sensors.
• Eye shields should be used to protect the eyes from direct glare.
• Arrangement of light-colored light as possible and limited use of blue wavelength light should be made.
Unlike many of the world’s environmental problems, the problem of light pollution can be directly mitigated, saving energy consumption and money, as well as giving favorable results with immediate effect.
Light pollution can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary bright lights throughout the night, except in buildings and areas that are important for safety. Although the severity of light pollution is low compared to the environment and various types of pollution conditions,
the world’s governmental systems and ordinary citizens must adopt efforts to combat the future challenges of light pollution. Scientists and industrial establishments need to work towards manufacturing harmless lighting devices, bulbs, and tube lights.
Globally, urgent measures are needed to reduce both the amount and intensity of artificial light at night indoors and in major cities. Employers of establishments with artificial lighting must ensure that their workers work within a safe limited distance from these bulbs, and tube lights.
These small precautions will go a long way in protecting people from the harmful effects of artificial light.
