Light Pollution

We have been talking about sound pollution and air pollution a lot but we seldom talk about another creeping pollution devil, light pollution.

Excess of anything is not good. Excess sugar makes sweet bitter. Excess salt makes food sour. Similarly, excess light results in light pollution. We are talking about excess artificial light. Growing global population and the advancement of technology has resulted in excess emission of light. Industrial growth has added to light pollution. Lets understand what is light pollution.

As defined by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), light pollution is defined as “Any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste”.

Excess light emission interferes with astronomical observatories, disrupts eco systems and causes health problems too.

Light pollution reduction can be achieved by efficient use of lighting or electricity in a broader prospective. But there is a distinct dispute in managing the usage of light, than other forms of industrial pollution. How do we decide, how much light is good for an individual? It is possible that if A requires a 60 watt bulb in his courtyard but it is annoying to B who is A’s neighbor. How much light is reasonable is difficult to decide. Hence to control excessive emission of light, individual awareness and thought is important.

Over illumination should be controlled and can de controlled by regulatory bodies. Buildings should not be over illuminated from outside. There is a common practice of showing off a well architecture building by focusing the high power focus lamps.

Facing excess light causes stress and increased headache. Fluorescent light at work place can increase blood pressure levels by around 6 points. Artificial light during night can be a facto to increased possibilities of breast cancer.

Citing all these dangers of light pollution it might be necessary in the near future to come out with a plan of complete re design of lamps and illuminating objects. Or we may have to live in complete darkness in the far future.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/