Light pollution
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Light pollution has been defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "excessive brightening of the night sky by street lights and other man-made sources". Light pollution is a problem for more than just amateur astronomers.
Contents |
Understanding light pollution
In humans light intensity controls the secretion of the hormone melatonin. Melantonin is produced by a gland in the brain (called the pineal gland). Need to check exactly how light intensity influences its production, its affect on our circadian rhythms and exhume that piece of research about how disruption in our ciricadian rhythms increases are rate of cancer (one piece is directly to do with light pollution, the other air hostesses and breast cancer).
Light pollution and insects
Navigation issues with the moon no longer being the one bright source of light in the night sky.
The causes
Evidence
Light, or more correctly luminous intensity is measured in candelas. One candela is the amount of light given off by a standard candle. Just the unit of measure and how ridiculous it sounds to anyone living in a western city should indicate how far off the scale we've come. Need to find some figures on luminous intensity now, 50, 100 and 150 years ago. Also should try and find/link to some satellite photos of the world at night.
Cost-benefit analysis
What are the solutions
Organisations that work on Issue name
See also
Books
Movies
External links
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