How light pollution is affecting life – Times of India

This comes from its unending traffic, obtrusive artificial light signboards that illuminate places and other multiple sources like overly bright offices as well as residential and commercial places. Experts say being privy to such artificial light may have adverse health effects. Not just this, it also leads to the disappearance of natural dark skies. Light pollution, unlike other forms of environmental pollution is largely overlooked and often people don’t even realise it’s harmful effects.

THE CULPRITS

You can be blinded by glare anywhere. Most common is the light emanating from cars and traffic. You also have brightly-lit advertising billboards, light from a restaurant, disco, shop and store signboards, and more. Floodlights at stadiums can also be harsh. Studies abroad have identified a correlation between light pollution and the lessening population of sparrows, moths, spiders and other species.

HARMFUL EFFECTS

– Glare over a long time from artificial light can be discomforting. It creates a loss of visibility from stray light being scattered within the eye.
– If you are exposed to a light source while sleeping, it may lead to a decrease in the levels of melatonin production (a hormone, which is produced by the pineal gland in the brain approximately between 9 pm and 8 am)
– This affects the sleep cycle and leads to sleep disorders.
– Being exposed to artificial light and air for long hours at work may make employees irritable and fatigued.
– Improper spectral composition of light can lead to ageing of eyes.
– Such artificial light hides natural starlight and leads to a disruption in the functioning of circadian rhythms (24-hour processes of most organisms such as eating, sleeping and mating).

DISTURBING FIND

In a study to ascertain the level of night-time artificial light in 147 communities in Israel, it was found that women living in places where it was bright enough to read a book outside at midnight had a 73% higher risk of developing breast cancer than those residing in areas with the least outdoor artificial lighting.

SMALL STEPS…

Experts say this is an environmental problem that can be reversible. One can reduce a lot of unnecessary light in the following ways:
– Sit at a safe distance from your TV set.
– Do not use a mobile at night in the dark, as the backlight can strain your eyes.
– Switch off bright landscape lighting around hedges and plants beyond a certain time.
– If you have to use a light, point it downwards; for example use a portable nightlight lamp for reading.
– Try and dim the lights often at home.

ADVICE: GET MORE NATURAL LIGHT

Health experts advocate getting more sunlight each morning. This has a positive effect on the brain and improves the internal body clock. A natural healer, sunlight is said to boost serotonin levels, reduce depression, improve bone health and keep you energised.

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