Light pollution - Simple English Wikipedia

# Light pollution

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Light pollution is a type of pollution. It is defined as “any adverse effect as a result of man-made lights.” Usually, this means an excess of lights. Several species, including plants and humans, are negatively affected by light pollution. There are three kinds: sky glow, light trespass, and glare. Sky glow usually has more of an effect on the environment than light trespass and glare, but all of them are a major problem to people today. Light pollution is an often neglected problem. Most people have never heard of light pollution, and those who have usually don’t care, or do anything about it. Light pollution costs Americans billions of dollars every year. People need to start caring about light pollution more. Lights go in too many directions, which causes most of light pollution. The world would be a better place for science, animals, and people if light pollution didn’t exist.

Sky glow is the kind of light pollution that prevents visibility of the moon and the stars and night. For example, birds cannot migrate to the right place without following the moon and stars. Unfortunately, light pollution blocks all visibility of the night sky. Sky glow is also the kind of light pollution that has been preventing astronomers from making discoveries. There are several groups of astronomers that have anti-light pollution websites. Conservation groups Light trespass is when light being used by a person travels into the property of another. Though light trespass is not an environmental issue, it is still light pollution. The third kind of light pollution, glare, also has different kinds. The first, disability glare, is similar to sky glow. It too, is the loss of visibility because of too many lights. Disability glare also blinds people. Discomfort glare is when the excess of lights causes annoyance or pain.

Light pollution has a very negative effect on life of plants and animals, including humans. For example, migrating birds have no way of seeing the moon and stars because of sky glow. They need to see the moon and stars to navigate. Sea turtles do not come to shore and nest as often, afraid of the lights. Also, plants need to make phytochrome after photosynthesis. They can not do this without a period of dark. Without these plants, we can not get oxygen to breathe. Humans are also affected by light pollution, in ways other than the killing of these plants, which are crucial to our life. Glare causes sleep problems in humans. For example, if a billboard sign is placed outside of someone’s apartment, they wouldn’t be able to sleep. Their entire behavior would be changed, possibly for the worse. Science itself is being affected, too: Astronomers have no way of observing, or making discoveries, without seeing the sky.

Light pollution occurs all over the world. Italy, Japan, and the United States of America have the largest light pollution problems. New York City has a huge amount, because of its huge population. Australia, Africa and Antarctica have almost no light pollution. South America also has very little light pollution.

Most people are not aware of light pollution. 32% of New York state citizens claim to be “very concerned” about light pollution. This may seem like a lot, but these 32% are most of the people who know what light pollution is. There are now several groups that are trying to prevent light pollution. Most of these groups didn’t start until very recently, as light pollution was, for a very long time, a neglected problem. Light pollution first made news in 1964, when an observatory was specially placed just to avoid light pollution. However, it wasn’t brought the attention of most people until June 6th, 2002, when the Czech Republic passed the world’s first light pollution law. Since then, light pollution is slowly being recognized by the general public as a major problem. It is slowly becoming less neglected as people realize the threat that light pollution is. In fact, it even has its own (very small) part in pop culture. In an episode of Seinfeld, Kramer once experienced the annoyance that is light trespass, when a billboard sign flashed red light into his apartment. Though it makes for a funny sitcom episode, Kramer was not amused. Of course, neither are the animals who suffer because of light pollution.

Light pollution is a much neglected problem. However, it is an easy one to lessen. Simply by using fewer lights, or using curtains when you do have lights on, you can lower the amount of light pollution. Don’t buy lights that send light in all directions. That wastes money, light, and is a big cause of light pollution. You could also start a light pollution campaign, getting others to join the fight against star glow. You could put up posters, urging people to turn off some of their extra lights to save animals that suffer because of sky glow, light trespass, and glare. Light pollution needs to become more well-known before it can be stopped.

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