Universal Heritage at stake: Light pollution and Artificial light to be blamed.

 Universal Heritage at stake: Light pollution and Artificial light to be blamed.

In Greek mythology stars and constellations are referred to as god-favoured heroes who were placed among the stars in memory of their deeds. Light pollution has been a creeping environmental problem which no one talks about. Loosing stars would not just mean we are destroying the nature, but it also means that humans have lost track, as stars have been our oldest navigator ever since life was created on earth. They have been the witness to all-natural catastrophes that have ever happened on earth and is now looking at how humans are destroying the planet. 

According to the International Dark Sky association, Light pollution is the side effect of industrial civilization. The World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness states that 80% of the world population is living under skyglow. 

Why talk about light pollution? 

Getting exposed to artificial light disturbs the natural day-night pattern and creates imbalance in the environment. All living creatures depend on this cycle for their wellbeing. Light pollution has affected from the smallest insects to the biggest corals reefs which spreads over thousands of miles. Taking about Coral reefs, International team of scientistsconducted a research showing that exposing the coral reef with artificial illumination would see a large decrease in the coral population and the marine species associated because the coral species would experience stunt growth which would make them more susceptible to predation and hence a decrease in population would be seen. 

Light pollution also considered to be the one of the biggest threats to pollinators. All the insects including bats and moths, who are the key to pollination get disoriented due to the exposure of artificial light. According to the Pollinator week 2021, there has been seen a 62% reduction in pollination at areas with high light pollution. Bat Conservation trust also mentions about delayed roost emergence which would makes the bats miss the peak time for feeding due to artificial light which threatens the survival of bat population. 

Artificial light has also been a very big threat to the migratory birds which generally tend to navigate and hunt using the moon and starlight, end up getting off course in the dangerous nighttime cities. It also affects their migratory schedules which makes them to miss the ideal time for foraging and nesting. 

Everyone knows that every year baby sea turtles die in road kills, but the main reason behind the turtles on the road is the light pollution. Hatchlings find the sea by detecting the bright horizon light over the sea but artificial lights being more powerful as compared to the natural light tends to draw them towards the cities. 

 

How are we affected?

Light pollution is affecting all tires of the food chain having an amplified effect on the ecosystem and biodiversity of the earth as whole. 

 

American Medical Association Council on Science and Public Health (2012) quoted

 “Many species including humans need darkness to survive and thrive”

 

Artificial light has a very deteriorating effect on human health. This is one of the biggest risks for increase in obesity, diabetes, sleep disorders. Some studies have also suggested that exposure to artificial light might increase the chances of breast cancers. It affects Circadian cycle (sleep wake pattern) which is one of the most essential factors for mental and physical health. Humans are dependent on plants for food, exposing plants to artificial light can affect their photosynthetic efficiency hence having lower quality fruits and seeds produced. 

 It’s never too late

Humans are trying to preserve the heritage on earth forgetting about the most beautiful heritage our ancestors have been passing from generations which, now is dying for the future generations to experience. 

Unlike all other kinds of pollution, the good news is that light pollution is reversible entirely just by making very little efforts and understanding the kinds of lights being used. Every citizen of earth could help in reducing light pollution. Let us all come together and preserve the biggest given heritage for our future generations.