DID YOU KNOW THAT LIGHT POLLUTION KILLS MILLIONS OF BIRDS EVERY YEAR?
Here are 5 facts about light pollution and its harmful effects that you probably did not know!
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Author: Isabel Liang
Sometimes, being ‘bright’ isn’t really a good thing. Light pollution was first recognized in the 1970s when astronomers began to see how the increasing adoption of artificial light was affecting their work. It has since worsened, and there’s no time like the present to shine a spotlight on its harmful effects on us and our planet. Let us take a look at 5 facts about this pressing issue!
FACT 1: THERE ARE 3 MAIN FORMS OF LIGHT POLLUTION
Light pollution is more than just about there being too many streetlamps and traffic lights; it’s also about how much light is being reflected! The first form of light pollution is ‘glare’. This is the light that is reflected off windshields and roads, which can cause us discomfort and even momentary blindness. At night, the glare from headlights and streetlamps, amplified under wet weather conditions, can reduce a motorist’s visibility, posing a major safety concern! The next form of light pollution is ‘light trespass’. Have you ever turned off the lights, ready to go to bed, only to find the room still well-lit by the lights outside? That’s light trespass- when light shines outside the area it intended to brighten! The last form of light pollution is ‘skyglow’, which cast a yellow-white halo around the city, making the sky brighter. It occurs when there is too much light shining up into the atmosphere. The light is reflected by the clouds back onto the ground, amplifying its brightness. This is what makes it difficult for us to view the stars and planets!
FACT 2: SINGAPORE HAS THE WORST LEVELS OF LIGHT POLLUTION IN THE WORLD
Yup, you’re seeing that right! In 2016, our little red dot was named by The New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness as the country with the worst level of light pollution in the world, at 100%! Singapore’s use of artificial light exceeds the level of light pollution tolerable per capita, and its citizens are living under skyglow. Placed on the map, Singapore truly shines bright like a diamond – but is that really a good thing…?
FACT 3: LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO LIGHT POLLUTION PUTS US AT RISK OF MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS
Artificial light at night disrupts our circadian rhythm (the process that regulates our sleep-wake cycle). Melatonin is released when it is dark and is suppressed when there is light. The hormone has antioxidant properties, lowers our cholesterol, boosts our immunity, induces sleep, and helps our organs such as the thyroid and pancreas to function. With more light at night, there is less melatonin produced, resulting in sleep deprivation, stress, depression, anxiety, and headaches amidst a slew of other health problems. Exposure to light during sleep can also increase your insulin resistance the following morning, and impair glucose and cardiovascular regulation which can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
Blue light, which is emitted by the screens of our electronic devices and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been particularly shown to reduce melatonin levels in humans. The reduced melatonin levels also contribute to contracting cancer!
FACT 4: LIGHT POLLUTION KILLS MILLIONS OF BIRDS (AND OTHER SPECIES) EVERY YEAR!
Artificial light at night attracts certain creatures like a moth to the flame (quite literally), trapping them with their spellbinding radiance. Insects ensnared by the light can be killed by the lamp’s heat, or crowd around one light source and become a free-flow buffet for predators. Birds are also attracted to artificial light, which can steer them away from their normal feeding grounds and bleach their visual pigments, preventing them from migrating. It can also cause diurnal species of songbirds to breed earlier and produce fewer offspring, and sing for longer periods of time, increasing their vulnerability to predators. In the case of amphibians, researchers have found that artificial light alters their nest hiding behaviour, affecting the success of their breeding. Some frogs move away from their ponds and towards the lights to hunt for food, increasing their risk of becoming dehydrated. Reptiles like sea turtles are also not spared from the harmful effects of light pollution! Turtle hatchlings follow the moonlight to crawl their way to the ocean where they are safe from predators like birds. Artificial lights, however, steer them away from the sea and towards the city lights where they die from dehydration and even vehicles. Female turtles often follow the same fate as their hatchlings after laying their eggs. Isn’t this depressing?
FACT 5: STARS COULD BE INVISIBLE TO US WITHIN THE NEXT 20 YEARS
Fault in our stars? No, the fault lies with us. Skyglow has brightened up our skies so much that most of us city-dwellers can no longer see the stars! In 2016, astronomers reported that the Milky Way was no longer visible to a third of our world’s population. They estimate that in 20 years, majority of the major constellations like Aquarius and Cancer will be indiscernible! Look upon the night sky tonight and see if you can spot any stars. Can you imagine a life without ever seeing a star again?
Did this article shed some new light on light pollution for you? Read more about this topic in the BBC Earth Magazine (Asia Edition) Volume 15 Issue 3!
Topic: Science
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