What is Light Pollution?
Light pollution is artificial brightening of the night sky caused by man-made lightening sources, which has a disruptive effect on natural cycles and inhibits the observation of stars and planets. It is also known as photo pollution or luminous pollution and basically is the misdirected or obtrusive of natural light by excessive artificial light. More than 80% of humanity lives under skies saturated with artificial light.
Components of light pollution
- Glare: excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort.
- Skyglow: brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas.
- Clutter: bright, excessive and confusing groupings of light sources.
- Light trespass: light falling where it is not intended or needed.
Effects of Light Pollution
- Disturbs the reproductive cycles of some animals.
- Disturbs migration of birds that navigate using the stars and to disorient night-flying insects.
- In humans, it disturbs circadian rhythms that regulate hormones and other bodily functions.
- Excessive blue light emitted form LEDs directly affects sleep pattern in Human by suppressing the production of the hormone melatonin, which mediates the sleep-wake cycle in humans.