By: Samantha Davenport
Pollution is a major concern in both the national and international arenas, and familiarity with land, water, and air pollution is ubiquitous. However, there is a fourth, and equally harmful pollutant – light. Light pollution is the result of excessive artificial lighting.[i] Industrialization has been the driving force behind the increase in light pollution – we heavily (and unnecessarily) light factories, storefronts, universities, streets, highways, airports, and train stations, just to name a few. While some think that light pollution only affects our ability to observe our vast night sky, light pollution harms humans, wildlife, and the environment.[ii]
Almost all of life on Earth operates on circadian rhythms – these “internal clocks” operate in 24-hour cycles and are affected by the change from day to night (the change from light to dark).[iii] Circadian rhythms affect hormone release, eating habits, digestion, temperature, sleeping patterns, and a plethora of other physical, mental, and behavioral processes.[iv] The dramatic increase in unnecessary artificial light, in turn brightening our night skies, affects all life’s biological rhythms, no matter the species – research indicates that light pollution causes fatigue, sleep deprivation, headaches, stress, and anxiety in humans while adversely impacting the migration, sleep, and habit patterns in wildlife.[v] By disrupting natural light cycles and adding excess heat into the atmosphere, light pollution also contributes to climate change and is partly responsible for the environmental devastation that is the result.[vi]
Kentucky is not exempt from the adverse effects of light pollution. Kentucky might not be home to the brightest cities in the world, but we still suffer the same consequences – from impaired daytime functioning to obesity, increased breast cancer rates, and a higher risk of cancer.[vii] More rural areas may not physically see the impact of light pollution on their skies, but nonetheless most of Kentucky is cloaked by light pollution.
Tackling pollution seems like a daunting task. It is an overwhelming problem that may seem like it cannot be mitigated by small acts. There is, however, a light at the end of the tunnel – there are some easy steps each of us can take to mitigate the effects of light pollution:
(1) Replace outdoor lighting with low-glare alternatives. Try colored lights – colors like red, amber, and yellow are low-glare but still effectively provide enough light.[viii]
(2) Use lighting fixtures with dimmer, timer, or motion sensor options to minimize the amount of light used.[ix]
(3) Ensure that outdoor light fixtures are covered and facing downwards.[x]
We can collectively work towards larger steps by petitioning local government and Congressional representatives to enact laws and ordinances to reduce light pollution – this may include night-time light ordinances that would limit light use for urban area infrastructure, proper covering for street and highway lights, and replacing street and highway lights with glare-free lights that not only reduces light pollution, but also helps drivers see better in the dark.[xi] Of course, simply try to minimize overall use of indoor and outdoor lighting – turn indoor lights off while you are not home, and only turn outdoor lights on when you need them. Every flip of the switch helps.
Light pollution has serious ramifications that will only amplify if we don’t take steps to alleviate the damage already done. It will take both time and hard work to mitigate the adverse effects of light pollution, but if we all do our part, we can collectively work towards reversing the damage we are causing our planet and its inhabitants to create a better world for the generations of life that will follow us.
[i] Light Pollution, Int’l. Dark-Sky Ass’n., https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/ (last viewed Oct. 22, 2021) [https://perma.cc/6HVH-H4N9].
[ii] Light Pollution, Nat’l. Geographic (Jul. 23, 2019), https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/light-pollution/ [https://perma.cc/Q698-667U].
[iii] Circadian Rhythms, Nat’l. Inst. Gen. Med. Sci., https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx (last viewed Oct. 22, 2021) [https://perma.cc/4QP7-C6SX].
[iv] Id.
[v] Nat’l. Geographic, supra note ii.
[vi] Elaina Zachos, Too Much Light at Night Causes Spring to Come Early, Nat’l. Geographic (Jun. 28, 2016), https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/light-pollution-early-spring-budbursts [https://perma.cc/Q8WS-AR37].
[vii] Jeffrey Kluger, Light Pollution is Getting Worse Every Year, TIME (Nov. 22, 2017), https://time.com/5033099/light-pollution-health/ [https://perma.cc/J96D-88LR].
[viii] 21 Impressive Ways to Reduce Light Pollution, Conserve Energy Future, https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/impressive-ways-reduce-light-pollution.php (last viewed Oct. 22, 2021) [https://perma.cc/W8G8-FP2W].
[ix] Light Pollution Solutions, Int’l. Dark-Sky Ass’n., https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/light-pollution-solutions/ (last viewed Oct. 22, 2021) [https://perma.cc/8PVX-JC94].
[x] Joe Peach, Four Ways to Reduce Light Pollution in Cities, Smart Cities Dive, https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/four-ways-reduce-light-pollution-cities/39175/ (last viewed Oct. 22, 2021) [https://perma.cc/TQF8-W38X].
[xi] Alisha McDarris, The Best Ways to Reduce Light Pollution and Improve Your Quality of Life, Popular Sci. (Jul. 5, 2021), https://www.popsci.com/reduce-light-pollution/ [https://perma.cc/9Z49-9X7K].