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The environmental charge of the light pollution brigade
It is 400 years ago that Galileo first picked up his telescope to look at the heavens.
What he saw changed scientific thinking forever, but had he been around today, there may not have been much to write home about.
Light pollution has left many towns and cities, not only in Britain, but across the world, bathed in a hazy orange glow, forcing even the most expert astronomers to go in search of more secluded spots for star-gazing.
"It's not that there's too much artificial street lighting, but the fact much of it is of the wrong kind," says Martin Lunn, assistant curator of astronomy at the Yorkshire Museum. "In the last decade or so we've seen the rise in the number of big industrial parks, large shopping centres and dense housing developments, all of which are illuminated at night. Add to this the trend of using uplighters, which instead of directing light downwards throw it up into the sky, and light pollution has become a problem common to all towns and cities.
"Some councils are now committed to reversing the trend and others have begun to turn street lights off later at night, but while there has been increased awareness of the problem I am not aware of any national policy.
"You don't have to go very far to see the effects of the problem. Recently I dropped my eldest son back in Middlesbrough and was driving back around 1.30am. I wound down the car window and you could hear birds tweeting. Surely that can't be right? I'm no expert on birds, but if they are burning energy when they should be roosting it must have some knock on effect."
While much of the evidence as to the adverse effects of light pollution have been anecdotal, there is a growing body of scientific research to back up the concerns.
Earlier this year an international team of scientists showed light pollution, particularly that which reflects off glass buildings, could reduce the chances of wildlife finding their natural breeding and feeding sites.
It's an issue the Campaign for Dark Skies has long been trying to push. "Many birds and insects use the sun, moon and stars as markers and if they can't see them their ability to navigate is severely hampered," says a spokesman for the group made up of astronomers, astrophysicists, wildlife volunteers and engineers.
"We know species like owls, which hunt in the dark, have also been severely affected. It stands to reason that the fewer dark places, there are, the fewer opportunities they have to find prey."
While the animal world may have borne the brunt of the problems resulting from light pollution, the desire to illuminate the night may also be taking its toll on humans.
"Sleep deprivation can lead to a whole host of medical problems," says the CDS. "Often people who live near areas of dense night lighting have no option but to buy thicker curtains, but these also block out the morning sun which makes it difficult to wake up naturally.
"There is also significant evidence showing that exposure to light at night can disrupt the body's production of melatonin, a hormone vital in resetting the body's biological clock.
"Secreted primarily in the brain, and at night, it triggers a host of important biological activities and helps maintain a healthy immune system."
However, the most persuasive argument to big business looking to save money in these cash-strapped times may be the financial one.
On average, a third of light from the country's nine million street lights shines upwards and outward and the wasted energy costs 110m a year.
The Government has already made a commitment to phasing out traditional bulbs in favour of energy-saving ones by 2011 and the next step could now be to persuade companies to take a long hard look at their own lighting spend.
"If 50 per cent of light is going up into the ether, it seems to be common sense that if you change the fitting and direct the light to the ground, you can use a lower wattage bulb and therefore save money.
"We don't want to turn the world pitch black, but we do want to restore the beauty of the night."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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