Health Effects of Light Pollution

In a recent article on Environmental Health Perspectives, Ron Chepesiuk wrote on the health risks that light pollution presents. He addressed the numerous effects that they can have on plant, animal, and human health.

First he addresses how an excess of artificial light can become a distraction for different species. Hatchling turtles move toward the ocean based on the lack of coming from land. But now they are distracted and disoriented by bright lights that are now prevalent on beaches around the world. It can prove fatal for the poor baby turtles if they do not find the sea soon enough. Birds, frogs, rats, and many other species can also be fatally distracted by light pollution, harming the rich ecosystems that try to thrive around our cities.

He also discusses how light pollution can throw off the circadian clocks of organisms. The circadian clock is the 24 hour day/night cycle that controls many physiological aspects of organisms. Extending the day with artificial light upsets circadian clocks and can cause many health problems, such as insomnia and cardiac disease. The disruption of the circadian clock has also been associated with disrupting prenatal development and causing cancer.

In conclusion, he outlines the current research on light pollution, what little there is of it. His goal behind this article is to explain that light pollution is a real problem, and to raise awareness about it so that more research can be done.

The full article can be found here, as well as many other articles written by Chepesiuk:
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