Light as environmental pollution
Instinctively, people fear the darkness. However, through many technical developments, it is now possible to illuminate everything at any time with electric light. Meanwhile, cities at night are illuminated up to 4000 times brighter than would be the case with natural night light. Even from space, a bright sea of lights is clearly visible, especially in densely populated areas. This progress, however, also brings its downsides.
Not only humans, but also animals and even plants suffer from bright nights. The effects on the ecosystem are immense. Therefore, light pollution is considered an environmental burden.
What is meant by "light pollution"
Light pollution is also called light smog. This occurs in places where total darkness can never prevail. The stars are partially or even completely obscured by light. The reason for the brightening of the natural night sky is artificial light. Examples are:
- Street lighting
- Neon signs
- Illumination of buildings and monuments
- Video walls
- Floodlight systems
- Industrial lighting
- Light sources from private buildings
Consequences for the ecosystem
The natural rhythm of living beings is significantly influenced by the change of day and night. If this is intervened by light pollution, the biological activity of land and sea animals is disrupted:
- Migratory birds lose their routes and fly long detours
- Birds collide with illuminated houses
- Fish suffer from disorientation
- Diurnal and nocturnal animals, such as birds and bats, get in each other's way
- Insects find a death trap in nightly lighting. Short-wave light attracts insects particularly strongly. They lose their sense of direction and fly around the light sources until exhaustion or burn themselves on the lamp. This not only significantly decimates the number of pollinators. Light is a cause of insect extinction.
- Plants are impaired in their growth cycle
Light as a burden for body and soul
Continuous lighting does not leave us humans unaffected either. Especially city dwellers are exposed to a lot of artificial light at night. Sleep disorders are not an uncommon consequence of this development. They can be accompanied by psychological and physical stress. Constant excessive lighting can thus make you sick.
Many people spend countless hours in front of screens every day. TVs, mobile phones and PCs have displays with blue light. Since the blue light receptors of our eyes regulate the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, blue light from screens can disturb our sleep rhythm. With these tips, the eyes can be protected from the blue light of the screens:
- Display blue light filters: Many screens have a blue light filter that reduces the amount of cold blue light. It can often be switched on under "Night light".
- Glasses with blue light filters: They reflect the blue light so that it does not reach the eyes in the first place.
- Reducing screen time: Over the day, natural sunlight loses its blue component. At least in the evening, it is therefore advisable to limit screen time in order not to disturb the formation of melatonin and to relieve the eyes.
How light pollution can be avoided
Some cities are already working on more environmentally friendly lighting.
One step is to equip street lighting with LED lights and direct the light cone downwards. Warm white LEDs are also insect-friendly, as the proportion of blue light that attracts them is low. Another approach is to reduce the illumination of buildings and only allow it under certain conditions. A reduction in light intensity also contributes to lower light pollution. The more sparingly and sensibly light sources are used and the less light is scattered in all directions, the better.
All this also applies to private, own lighting. With insect-friendly bulbs, timers and motion detectors, as well as lamps with low radiation, everyone can contribute to environmental and self-protection.
Thoughtful lighting protects people and the environment. Every visible star is a success.