Increased Light Pollution

Increased light pollution

Introduction

LED lighting systems increase light pollution unlike the expected new LED lighting technologies, more efficient, contribute to increasing light pollution. This increase in light pollution is mainly due to the fact that more and more illuminated areas are, since it tends to think that using less shocking and more efficient technologies are less harmful to the environment.

Developing

Recently, Science Advance magazine has published an article with the results of a study that states that artificially illuminated areas have grown with a rate of 2.2% per year and total radiance has also increased by 1.8% during the2012 – 2016 period. These results are worrying considering that enlightenment efficiency has improved what should translate into a decrease in light pollution, but the opposite effect has occurred.

This effect is an increase in consumption due to lower cost and a lower concern. The data on which the study is based have been obtained by the radiometer of visible infrared images (VIIRS) positioned in the Suomi NPP meteorological satellite. Among the most illuminated countries are the United States, Italy and Spain that fortunately have suffered a break according to the results of the study. Instead Syria and Yemen have decreased their lighting areas.

This as a consequence of the conflicts in which they participate. World artificial lighting atlas The world artificial lighting atlas has been obtained through software that measures the propagation of light pollution through high -resolution satellite data.

In this Atlas we can see that 80% of the world surface is affected by light pollution and the Milky Way is not visible for more than a third of the world’s population. Harmful effects of light pollution.

conclusion

Light pollution has disastrous effects on human health, since they alter the natural rhythms of day and night and have been seen that they favor the appearance of diseases such as cancer, diabetes or depression. On the other hand, light pollution affects flora and fauna by modifying the state of ecosystems. Proposals to reduce light pollution Decrease energy consumption by emission control. Develop more sustainable lighting policies. Increase the use of efficient systems and improve their use. Replace artificial lighting with amber LED lights.