Saving the Night Sky: Light Pollution and it’s Impacts

I was with a friend, reclining on the terrace and gazing into the night sky, discussing life. We were in this quaint little village, Nimboda, near Ujjain, India, celebrating our friend’s wedding—an elaborate 7-day affair. As with every Indian wedding, it was one of the most extravagant celebrations I have ever been part of, with music echoing from all directions, lights brightening the path to our friend’s home, and then illuminating the mansion that was his home, accompanied by a band playing drums in the courtyard. The sky was vast, and there was nothing obstructing the view. We sincerely wished that for a moment the lights would go out, and we could rest our ears. What we didn't anticipate was the view of the night sky during the blackout shortly after. The sky was adorned with a million stars, and both my friend and I lay on the terrace too amazed to speak. I have never witnessed a clearer sky before. We managed to identify some constellations and reveled in our newfound appreciation for the universe we are part of.

The reality is that most of us haven't been fortunate enough to experience the splendor of the night sky to its full extent. We can attribute it to our hectic lives, demanding schedules that hinder us from enjoying simple pleasures, and the absence of access to a terrace of you are a city dweller. However, what is truly responsible is light pollution, a form of pollution that often escapes attention. How does light even pollute, you ask? As soon as the sun sets, the lights flicker to life. They brighten streets, your preferred restaurants and shopping complexes, billboards, and then there are the additional lights for aesthetics, to make a city appear more inviting. This light comes in various forms. The light that is desired, followed by the glare emanating from this light causing visual discomfort, light trespass, which is light falling where it is not needed, and then sky glow, artificial light brightening the sky. Sky glow obstructs our view of the expansive sky; we no longer even consider it. For many, how the sky appears with the sky glow is exactly how they perceive the night sky. Light pollution does more than hinder our view of the night sky; it harms our ecosystem, our health, and is also correlated with the climate crisis.

Turtles that hatch on the beaches often lose their way and perish as they become disoriented by the bright lights and move toward the light source rather than the sea. This is a frequent occurrence on beaches near inland cities. Dogwhelks that feed on barnacles, preyed on by crabs and birds alike, tend to stay underwater at night, believing it to be day, and entire populations of them get consumed by a cast of crabs. Nocturnal animals also appear confused and irritated by artificial light that disrupts their cycles. Predators can hunt even at night since nights are no longer dark. Predator-prey populations become dangerously imbalanced in well-lit areas. Nocturnal pollination decreases as well. Trees in well-lit areas bud prematurely and shed leaves long after they are supposed to.

Concerning the impact light pollution has on human health, the circadian cycle is disrupted thanks to the blue light emanating from our screens and streets. Melatonin is produced as a signal to initiate the sleep cycle, and this occurs only in darkness. When this cycle is disrupted due to the presence of artificial light, it triggers the excessive production of other hormones, such as estrogen, causing breast cancer. In fact, shift workers seem to be at a 50% higher risk of developing various types of cancers. It also damages our eyesight as the retina becomes overwhelmed when we use bright light sources. 

Even now, electricity is primarily sourced from fossil fuel; 38% of the world relies on coal for its electricity needs, while another 30% utilizes oil and other petroleum sources. Now that directly impacts the climate, and with three billion dollars in the US wasted solely on light that serves no function, the energy and financial wastage across the world must be in the billions. 

What is the solution? The answer is quite apparent. Turn on lights only when and where necessary. This can be achieved by using motion sensors in the case of street lamps. Employing lamp shades will also help block trespass light and glare. We can also install directional light devices. Switching to warmer lights can also benefit us significantly. Dimmers must be made mandatory to control the intensity of the light. Reducing lighting in ecologically sensitive areas will be beneficial for the ecosystem.

 

Light pollution-induced damage from all around the world is starting to capture the authorities' attention as they have begun to allocate more resources to research and develop alternative green solutions. I genuinely hope that one day we will all be able to gaze up at the night sky and be greeted by an ocean of stars.